New oval for Narooma rugby league, Aussie rules clubs

After several decades, shifting the goalposts for Aussie rules and rugby league clubs on a far south coast town will come to an end after extra funding was announced for a new oval.

For more than 40 years, the Narooma Lions Aussie rules team and rugby clubs have shared the Bill Smyth Oval in Narooma, with field posts being painstakingly moved and reassembled after every game.

That will soon be a thing of the past after Eurobodalla Shire Council announced on Thursday that it had secured an extra $660,000 for a second oval from the fourth round of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund scheme.

Worth about $1 million, the oval will be next to the existing field and the council will co-fund the recreation drawcard.

Narooma Devils Rugby League Club secretary Bob Burnside was surprised to learn of the funding but said it was a good investment for the community.

“It will be an amazing asset to the town,” he said.

“As it is now, the oval is one of the best sporting grounds in the shire, and on the south coast, really.

“But, it will be great to have each of the codes having their own field.”

A second, $1 million pitch will be built adjacent to the old Bill Smyth oval in Narooma.

Eurobodalla Shire Council recreation manager Nathan Farnell said the project was identified in the council’s sports masterplan, along with other local sporting upgrades, which were developed in close consultation with the community.

“The Narooma AFL and rugby league communities have been generously sharing the one playing field at Bill Smyth for decades, so the new field will provide greater flexibility for training nights and game days,” he said.

“Main competition matches for both sports can still be held on the primary field to take advantage of the existing sporting amenities and better spectator viewing options.”

The project comes after the council obtained $500,000 from the federal government to build a netball and basketball court in Narooma, as well as upgrade the sporting precinct’s carpark.

The acrylic court will include fencing, lighting, line marking, and reverse goals to accommodate both sports, and will be built next to the tennis club.

Mr Farnell said work on the court would start in March and was due to be completed in the second half of the year.

Construction of the oval will wrap up in late 2023.