More major upgrades for facilities in the 'City of Good Sports'

Wagga’s quest to cement its title as the “City of Good Sports” continues with another significant investment in infrastructure.

Two key sporting facilities in the city will undergo major upgrades after Wagga City Council was awarded $7.74 million in grants from the NSW Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund.

The Bolton Park Sports Hub will receive $5 million to overhaul the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre while the Bill Jacob Athletics Centre at Jubilee Park has received just over $2.74 million.

Deputy Mayor Jenny McKinnon said it was a major boon for the region.

“Once completed, they have the potential to see our city host even more state, and even national level, sporting competitions, further enhancing Wagga Wagga’s status as the ‘City of Good Sports’,” she said.

The council adopted the Bolton Park Master Plan in 2019 with stage one including the reconfiguration of the Geoff Lawson Oval and the redevelopment of the ageing Jim Elphick Tennis Centre.

Centre manager Tom Denahy said it was exciting to see an investment in regional tennis.

“There are so many clubs that used to exist and they’ve just gone to ruin,” he said.

“To see a big country town that is actually investing in a whole new complex – not just an upgrade of the courts or the clubhouse … it’s starting from the ground up brand new so it’s gonna be the newest and one of the best regional tennis clubs in the whole country.”

The state-of-the-art facilities will include eight ITF championship hard courts, seven community courts, two multi-purpose netball courts, a multi-purpose amenities building with a pro-shop, change facilities, public toilets, a function space, multi-purpose rooms, spectator areas and storerooms for tennis, netball and other community groups.

Tom said it would allow them to attract experienced coaches and inspire the next generation.

“I think the players it’s going to attract in the next three, four or five years are going to be very important,” he said.

“And if we do attract big coaches, they have contacts and may be able to get some high-end players here, too.”

Wagga Tennis Association president Michael Marien said it was a great feeling to have things underway.

“The whole complex is going to be very exciting and hopefully we’re going to attract more tournaments to the region,” he said.

Little Athletics NSW CEO Rebecca Shaw was similarly impressed with the proposed upgrades to the Bill Jacob Athletics Centre.

“It has been a while in the making and has been worth the wait for athletes around the Riverina and the state,” she said.

The improvements include a 400-m synthetic running track, a warm up area, two long/triple jump runways, a steeplechase pit, three shot put throwing circles, two javelin runways, a discus throw cage, a shared discus hammer throw and a high jump area.

Ms Shaw said the investment reflected the strength of athletics in the Riverina.

“It certainly allows us to bring more major competitions to Wagga and allows them to compete to a top standard,” she said.

“Young athletes will be able to record their best times.”

She hopes the weatherproof facility will help grow sports even more and attract Zone, Regional and State competitions along with schools and community groups.

“It means they’re less likely to have to cancel their events on a weekly basis and obviously, that has a huge impact on retention,” she said.

Ben Creighton is the council’s strategic asset planner and believes the level of investment is an affirmation of their strategy of both providing for the community and attracting outside interest.

“It’s also making sure that those community use facilities can be transferable to bring high level and high participation events to the city, so we can really generate the economic benefit off the back of those events,” he said.

He said the next step would be to sign a funding agreement with the NSW Government before the council begins planning immediate implementation.

For more information about the upgrades and the Bolton Park Master Plan visit the Wagga City Council.