The NSW Government has granted Port Stephens Council $1.6 million to upgrade sport and recreation facilities across the local government area and for further Birubi Point Aboriginal Place works.
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In Mallabula on Friday, Port Stephens duty MLC Catherine Cusack and Liberal state election candidate Jaimie Abbott announced $978,000 would be spent on six sport and recreation projects.
“Sport, recreation and the outdoors is a way of life for our community in Port Stephens,” Ms Abbott said.
“It has the effect of bonding us together and I’m truly thankful that the Berejiklian Government recognises that.
“Access for everyone is something I am extremely passionate about and I am so glad that this has been a key theme across these upgrades.”
The money, from the Stronger Country Communities Fund, will be spent on upgrades to the Tilligerry Tennis Clubhouse ($200,000), Tomaree Sports Complex ($200,000), Wallalong’s Bowthorne Oval ($100,000), Corlette’s Bagnalls Beach Reserve ($80,000), King Park Sports Complex ($20,000) and Medowie’s Yulong Oval ($198,000).
Linda Van Eldik, president of the Tilligerry Tennis Club, said an upgrade of the Mallabula-based clubhouse was long overdue.
“We’re so excited,” she said. “Hopefully it happens quickly. It has been a long time coming.”
The $200,000 will be used to paint the clubhouse at Mallabula Sports Complex inside and out, replace the roof, add a sheltered seating area, build accessible amenities and renovate the kitchen.
Opened in 1974, the two court tennis club has a membership of approximately 30 people.
After a long wait and much lobbying, Nelson Bay Croquet Club will receive two new lawns to accommodate its large member base.
In addition to the installation of the lawns, the $200,000 will be spent on building a new access road, drainage and irrigation works.
“The Nelson Bay Croquet Club is a fantastic sports club that has unfortunately had to turn away membership requests as their existing two courts are at capacity,” Ms Cusack said.
“This expansion will enable the club to grow, increase participation and enable it to host major events.”
At Bowthorne Oval, home to Seaham Bowthorne Football Club and Bowthorne Cricket Club, $100,000 will be spent to install two covered grandstands.
Bagnalls Beach Reserve will have $80,000 spent on it to revitalise the recreation area, which will include the construction of a new playground with softfall flooring and pathways, as well as new picnic tables and a water bubbler.
A further $200,000 will be spent on King Park Sports Complex in Raymond Terrace to construct three all-access amenities, as well as a ramp and pathways.
Yulong Oval will receive a major overhaul with the $198,000 contribution to upgrade the playing surfaces, which will accommodate two senior cricket ovals with synthetic pitches and three senior soccer fields.
Lighting will also be improved with the installation of additional floodlights.
However, Port Stephens Council said this work is dependent on it securing additional funding.
Following the stop in Mallabula, Ms Cusack and Abbott joined Port Stephens deputy mayor Sarah Smith in Robinson Reserve at Anna Bay to announce that the council had been successful in securing a $650,000 grant through the Stronger Country Communities Fund for stage two of the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place plan.
The works will include the construction of a viewing platform and interpretive signage at the high point adjacent to Birubi Surf Life Saving Club, as well as a new playground, skate park and public amenities.
“The next stage includes walkway improvements, which is designed to strengthen the link between Robinson Reserve and Birubi surf club,” Ms Cusack said.
“It features carpark upgrades to complete the Robinson Reserve recreation precinct upgrade, which was awarded $700,000 from the Berejiklian Government earlier in the year.”
Cr Smith said the funding is a “significant investment”.
“Birubi Point is an incredibly special place with strong cultural significance for our local Worimi people, the traditional inhabitants of this land,” she said.
“[This] will give our town of Anna Bay a great lift, while demonstrating that contemporary developments that are well planned and designed in consultation with Aboriginal people can and do happen in Aboriginal places.”
It is the second consecutive week Ms Cusack and Abbott have made significant funding announcements in Port Stephens.
On Friday, September 21 the pair granted Port Stephens Council $160,000 for weed management, Nelson Bay Swimming and Wellness Academy at Taylors Beach $150,000 and Caring for Our Port Stephens Youth $50,000.
Friday’s funding at a glance
- $200,000 to upgrade the Tilligerry Tennis Clubhouse, including a total internal and external repaint, roof replacement, addition of a sheltered seating area, construction of accessible amenities, and internal renovations.
- $200,000 to construct two new croquet lawn courts at Tomaree Regional Sports Complex in Nelson Bay. A new access road will also be built, and drainage and irrigation works will be carried out.
- $100,000 for a major upgrade to spectator seating at Bowthorne Oval in Wallalong to accommodate the Seaham Bowthorne Football Club and Bowthorne Cricket Club.
- $80,000 to revitalise the recreation area and provide access for all at Bagnalls Beach Reserve in Corlette, including a new playground with soft fall flooring and pathways, as well as new picnic tables and a water bubbler.
- $200,000 for King Park Regional Sports Complex in Raymond Terrace to construct three all-access amenities, as well as a ramp and pathways.
- $198,000 for a major overhaul of playing surfaces at Yulong Oval in Medowie (however, this is dependent on securing additional funding).
- $650,000 in funding to Port Stephens Council for stage two of the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place management plan