Needles dumped near stadium in lead up to Coffs Harbour Oztag 2025 NSW State Championships

Several syringes have been found strewn across the grass near a major international sports stadium in the lead-up to one of the state’s biggest junior sporting events of the year.

Needles found strewn across the grass near the C.ex Coffs International Stadium in the lead up to the Oztag 2025 NSW State Championships. Picture: Facebook

Several syringes have been found strewn across the grass near a major international sports stadium in Coffs Harbour in the lead-up to one of the region’s biggest junior sporting events of the year.

They were located in the vicinity of the C.ex Coffs International Stadium early on Friday morning just prior to the three-day Oztag 2025 NSW State Championships.

A spokesperson from Coffs Harbour Junior Oztag warned on Friday morning “the whole ground is covered in junkie needles, uncapped” and added: “someone is very likely to get an injury today”.

The Oztag 2025 NSW State Championships is the biggest participation event hosted by the C.ex Coffs International Stadium-anchored sports precinct.

Bill Harrigan and Coffs Harbour mayor Nikki Williams.

In the lead up to the event tournament director Bill Harrigan said the scale of the event is “mind-boggling”.

“This tournament is our biggest of the year, it’s like organised mayhem,” Mr Harrigan said.

“Parents, grandparents and siblings all converge on this beautiful city of Coffs Harbour to watch their sons/daughters play Oztag for the ultimate prize of State Champions.”

Teams are coming from across NSW and the ACT for the tournament which will run from Friday to Sunday.

By midmorning a spokesperson from the City of Coffs Harbour said the needles were in the process of being cleaned up, however, it’s understood the event had already kicked off by the time removal was under way.

Originally published as Needles dumped near stadium in lead up to Coffs Harbour Oztag 2025 NSW State Championships