South Hobart Football Club pitches new ‘sports centre’ to upgrade ‘not fit for purpose’ facilities
The soccer club claims Darcy St facilities aren’t ‘fit for purpose’ and they want to change it. See what’s planned.
Tasmania
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South Hobart Football Club is seeking to expand its existing facilities at its Darcy St home, saying they are “not fit for purpose”.
A multistorey development next to the existing main grandstand has been outlined in a development application, now open for community comment with the Hobart City Council.
The proposed sports centre has a two-storey design with separate male and female changing rooms on the ground floor.
On the first floor would be two club rooms, a viewing room and space for reception, ticket sales and canteen facilities.
The application says the new building wouldn’t be used for functions unless subsequent approval was given.
The club says in the application its existing facilities are “not fit for purpose” as membership grows — particularly among women and girls.
Soccer’s growing popularity due to the Matildas success at last year’s Women’s World Cup could further increase female participation, the club believes.
The venue as it stands doesn’t have dedicated female change rooms, with games often played back-to-back at the ground on weekends over winter.
“The club identified the requirement for improved facilities included dedicated female change rooms to allow facilities to be fit for purpose,” the development application said.
“This development will support current and future participants, and demonstrate the club’s commitment to female participation and success.”
The build is proposed to be 6.73m high with colorbond to be used on the centre’s exterior facade.
The soccer ground, also known as South Hobart Oval, is public land.
Consultation for the development was conducted over four weeks in early 2023.
The application does not outline how the project would be funded.
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