Bill Strong Oval, the spiritual home of the Nelson Bay Gropers rugby union club for more than 40 years, is about to get a long-awaited upgrade.
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Club president Ray Milton said that a $70,000 grant from the Tomaree Sports Council would be used to improve the oval's irrigation system.
"The first stage of the work will involve pressure testing of the pipes and an inspection of the sprinkler heads. We may even look at providing a 40,000 litre water tank. We are hoping the work will be completed in time for the start of the 2020 rugby season," Milton said.
"Strong Oval is highly visible and it's important that we ensure it remains in good condition."
The club has also lodged an application for a $200,000 grant with the NSW Better Country Communities Fund in order to renovate and refurbish the run-down single storey brick building at Bill Strong.
"Currently the building, built in the 1980s, has a single dressing shed with toilet, storage shed and small canteen area. If successful with our funding application, we can move the storage shed which houses the scrum machine and other equipment to a much larger area.
"This will also allow us to fit a second change room to cater for men and women, complete with showers and toilet facilities. Nelson Bay wants to be part of the growth of women's rugby in Port Stephens."
He said that the club hoped to use its own builders, labourers and tradies to help with construction.
Mr Milton said that the Gropers had hoped to again host a round of the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union summer sevens carnival for women in 2020, which comprising a dozen or more teams in the under 16s and opens.
"This year the club also hosted the Army Brigade men's and women's tournaments and it is hoped they can come back next year as well."
Currently, the Gropers are without a women's team, but the Medowie Rugby Club's women have played a selection of their matches at Strong Oval over the past couple of seasons.
"Clearly the better facilities we have to cater for women's teams the more matches and tournaments we can host for women into the future."
The longtime club president and 'golden oldie' said that the Gropers club - looking further down the track - would be hoping to secure some funding to construct a disability access ramp from the centre carpark to the top level of the main clubroom, where the club's only pram/wheelchair accessible toilet is located.
"This is one of the longer term projects - along with expanding and refurbishing the main clubrooms - the Gropers club would like to undertake."
Mr Milton said the Nelson Bay club had the support of NSW Rugby, Port Stephens Council, Tomaree Sports Council and State MP Kate Washington.