Footy, soccer and cricket clubs given get new community sport facilities at Balgowlah and Belrose.
Footy, soccer and cricket clubs have been given the keys to new community sport facilities on the northern beaches.
Manly
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Clubs using two of the most popular playing fields on the northern beaches have been handed the keys to new amenties blocks — just in time for the community sport to kick off.
Players and officials from grassroots AFL, soccer and cricket teams can now enjoy new change rooms, canteens and storage areas at Lionel Watts Reserve at Belrose and Balgowlah Oval, on Sydney Rd.
The Balgowlah Suns Junior AFL club — and its 400 players — will be able to use the new block thanks to a partnership between Northern Beaches Council, the Australia Football League, the NSW Government and the club itself.
Grassroots sports is returning to the northern beaches from July 1 after the latest level of COVID-19 restrictions was lifted.
The new building includes two change rooms with toilet and shower facilities, more storage space, a small canteen and separate public toilets. Umpires even get their own room.
Mayor Michael Regan paid tribute to Balgowlah Suns’ officials, for lobbying the council and the NSW Government for funds.
“Following extensive consultation and collaboration with the community and stakeholders, the building was designed and a new modular building was prefabricated off-site, craned in and quickly constructed,” Mr Regan said.
The Suns’ president Haydn Sheehan kicked off his lobbying efforts last year.
“It’s amazing,” Mr Sheehan said this week.
“I got the keys and we walked in and I was blown away at the size, quality, and ultimately about what it means for the club and our growth moving forward.”
At Lionel Watts Reserve players from three clubs — Forest AFL Club, the Wakehurst Football Club and the Wakehurst Redbacks Cricket Club — can now use the upgraded western amenities block.
The refurbishment includes change room facilities to cater for the increased number of women playing community sport.
The improvements, part of the Glen Street Masterplan, include a scenic upper level viewing platform for spectators as well as additional storage for the clubs.
Mr Regan said the new building was the result of great collaboration between the council, the NSW Government and the three clubs.
“It’s great the increased space provided by this upgrade will support the increased number of matches to be able to be played on the synthetic fields,” Mr Regan said.
Forest AFL Club president Jonathan Hall, said: “The new facilities are really important to our club. We think with the new synthetic surface and new change room and viewing area , we’ve got one of the best AFL facilities in all of NSW.”
Vice president of the Wakehurst Redbacks Cricket Club, Kevin Wesson, said: “It’s a fantastic addition to the Lionel Watts campus. It’s an excellent facility.”
President of Wakehurst Football Club Greg Dick added: “Council engaged with us very early on this project. They surveyed to find out what our needs were, what our priorities were. They’ve listened to us and they’ve given us what we’ve asked for.”