Resident up in arms after removal of goalposts at important Territory oval ahead of cricket season

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has weighed in on the bumbling community fracas over the removal of Nightcliff’s footy goal posts for the cricket season.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has weighed in on the Nightcliff footy post removal saga requesting Darwin council replant the posts at the sporting oval.

This comes after Rapid Creek resident Dane Hirst called out Darwin council for removing the goalposts at Nightcliff Oval and Alawa Oval ahead of the cricket season.

Hirst believed the posts had been left in at one end of Nightcliff Oval over the past few seasons, which would allow him and other members of the community to practise in the footy off-season.

Now Chief Minister and Nightcliff MLA Natasha Fyles has jumped in on the calls asking the council to replant the posts down one end.

“In previous years, I have been told there has usually been at least one set of goalposts at Nightcliff available for use during the Dry Season,” Ms Fyles said.

“I know that local families and footy club members have used these during the football off-season for practice and preseason training.

“It would be appreciated if the City of Darwin could consider returning at least one set of football goalposts for use at Nightcliff and Alawa Ovals for us during the Dry Season.

“This would keep the ovals more accessible and practical spaces for all members of the community to keep active and healthy.”

NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has called for footy posts at Nightcliff Oval to be replanted. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Darwin council’s community general manager Matt Grassmayr responded to the chief’s correspondence stating the goalposts had been removed following feedback from stakeholders.

The feedback outlined there was wear and tear on the end of the oval where the goalposts normally remained planted, impacting the integrity of the playing surface.

“The AFL posts are removed ahead of the Dry Season cricket competition in line with standard procedures for ovals that include a turf cricket wicket,” Mr Grassmayr.

“We trialled leaving a set of AFL posts at one end of Nightcliff Oval, the feedback from stakeholders was that the wear and tear on that end caused considerable damage throughout the Dry Season.

“(The damage) affected the integrity of the playing surface for both cricket and AFL competitions.”

Rapid Creek resident Dane Hirst was disgruntled after the goalposts at Nightcliff Oval were removed ahead of the Darwin Cricket season. Picture: Nathaniel Chambers

Mr Grassmayr stated similar damage was found at Alawa Oval during handover inspections after a long-term lease to CDU expired on January 1.

“During handover inspections (of Alawa Oval) it was found the AFL posts at Alawa Oval Two, which were concreted into the ground, were no longer stable and their removal was necessary,” he said.

“New sleeved posts will be installed for the 2023-24 AFL season and will be thereafter be removed/installed seasonally along with the other sleeved posts at City of Darwin ovals.”

Goal posts remain in place at six council ovals including Gardens Oval Two, Jingili, Moil, Tiwi, Wagaman and Wulagi.

Top End resident furious after goalposts removed

Top End residents have been left furious following the removal of goalposts from two Nightcliff ovals ahead of the Darwin Cricket season.

In an email to this publication, Rapid Creek resident Dane Hirst said the removal of the posts at Nightcliff and Alawa ovals was “unwarranted”.

The Darwin & District Cricket Competition starts on April 15 with the Nightcliff’s Premier Grade team playing at Nightcliff Oval against Waratah.

Hirst believed the posts had been left in at one end of Nightcliff Oval over the past few seasons, and there was no reason to remove them at both ends.

“Alawa Oval’s goalposts weren’t removed at all for cricket season in the past,” Hirst said.

“There are obviously concerns with safety for weekend cricket competition having the goalposts there, but it hasn’t been an issue for the past four years, so why remove the goalposts now at both ends?”

Rapid Creek resident Dane Hirst was disgruntled after the goalposts at Nightcliff Oval were removed ahead of the Darwin Cricket season. Picture: Nathaniel Chambers

He called on Darwin Council to put the posts back in the turf so residents could practice their football skills all year round.

“During the dry season there are hundreds of young men, women and families with youngsters, that use these ovals for training, recreation and exercise,” he said.

“Should we not be encouraging people to use these ovals all year round?

“If so, why aren’t the goalposts within the ovals available to them all year round?”

Nightcliff taking on Palmerston at Nightcliff Oval during the 2022 season. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Hirst said there were already too few ovals in Darwin without goalposts saying he would have to go as far as Tiwi or Gardens to kick his footy.

“Please don’t make the situation worse,” he said.

“Don’t force people on to school grounds to use their ovals as schools don’t want outsiders on their grounds.

“I’ve seen people out here all year wanting to have a kick at the posts to maintain and develop their skills, they can’t do that without them.

“There are bigger ramifications at stake here, not just safety concerns for weekend, Darwin cricket competition.”

Peak bodies AFLNT and Cricket NT said it was a matter for the local council.

A Nightcliff Cricket Club committee spokesman said the decision to remove the posts was “well-considered” by the council, following consultation between itself and the football club.

He said the club had issues with safety during junior cricket training, allowing grass around the posts to recover and allowing sight screens to be set up for games either this season or next.

Darwin Council and Nightcliff Football Club have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Resident up in arms after removal of goalposts at important Territory oval ahead of cricket season