Nott Oval rubber-stamped as home to Camden’s first synthetic football field

Narellan’s Nott Oval has been rubber-stamped as the home of the Camden area’s first synthetic football field, following Camden Council’s ordinary meeting last night.

Narellan’s Nott Oval will be home of the Camden area’s first synthetic football field.

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Narellan’s Nott Oval has been rubber-stamped as the home of the Camden area’s first synthetic football field, following Camden Council’s ordinary meeting last night.

The $2.8 million facility will be funded by the Western Parkland Liveability Program and is expected to be in operation late next year.

Nott Oval fended off expressions of interest from local clubs for Camden South’s Ron Dine Memorial Reserve, Mt Annan’s Birriwa Reserve and Oran Park’s Mick Doohan Reserve or Jack Brabham Oval.

Camden Liberal Mayor Theresa Fedeli said the future sporting facility was a major win for football in the area.

“Nott Oval is the ideal location for the synthetic football field due to its central location to the area, public transport access and parking capacity,” she said.

“Council is committed to providing our residents with the highest quality sport and recreation facilities and this will be another fantastic facility to be enjoyed by both a range of local football clubs and the wider community.

“With a growing demand for football in our area and our new A-League club Macarthur FC kicking off in 2020-21 this is a very exciting project for the future of sport in Camden.”

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The location of the synthetic field was hotly debated by councillors with Camden South’s Ron Dine Reserve and Narellan’s Nott Oval the only eligible sites in relation to council’s criteria.

Camden Tigers president Michael Gowing addressed councillors and highlighted why the club believed the synthetic football field was a better fit at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve.

Mr Gowing identified factors such as Ron Dine Memorial Reserve’s increased parking capacity, the club’s representative pathways and registration numbers, as well as the location’s endorsement by Macarthur FC Bulls.

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The fields at the Ron Dine Memorial Reserve complex currently host about 425 games annually, compared to about 70 games on the single Nott Oval field.

Camden Liberal councillor Lara Symkowiak, who voted in support of the Nott Oval location, made mention of the future Narellan train station and potential higher density around the Nott Oval precinct.

Liberal Mayor Theresa Fedeli, independent deputy mayor Rob Mills and Liberal councillors Peter Sidgreaves, Lara Symkowiak and Michael Morrison voted in support of the location.

Labor councillors Cindy Cagney and Paul Farrow voted against.

The synthetic football field, when complete, will be available for use by multiple local football clubs as desired by the Macarthur Football Association.