FIRST SOD OF SOIL TURNED ON $600,000 ARMIDALE NETBALL COURTS UPGRADE

FIRST SOD OF SOIL TURNED ON $600,000 ARMIDALE NETBALL COURTS UPGRADE

Formally commencing construction on the $600,000 new Armidale District Netball Association courts, Armidale Regional Council Deputy Mayor Debra O’Brien, left, Sports Build CEO Craig Morris, Director Jeremy Blanch, Deputy Premier John Barilaro, junior netball player Alexis Lockwood, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Armidale District Netball Association Coaching Co-ordinator Rochelle Joyce, Ella Lockwood, Lucy and Sophie Young and Sports Build Senior Project Manager Graham Cooper.

 

Monday, 1 February 2021.

 

LOCAL netball players will soon have the confidence to move faster and attack harder, with work to replace and upgrade Armidale District Netball Association’s Lynches Road netball courts underway, thanks to $600,000 injection from the State Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

 

Deputy Premier John Barilaro joined Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall last Friday to turn the first ceremonial sod of soil at the netball complex, where all 10 courts will be upgraded and rebuilt with new surfaces and improved drainage.

 

Mr Marshall said he was pleased work was underway on the project, which would make the courts safer and bring them up to first-class competition standard.

 

“The courts were in desperate need of replacement, with significant cracking, uneven surface and poor drainage threatening the safety of players,” Mr Marshall said.

 

“The 20-year-old surface was crumbling, with large cracks creating trip hazards for the players.

 

“The inability for water to escape off the courts when it rained caused instability in the surface and creating the need for costly, regular maintenance.

 

“To address these issues the surface of netball courts A and B will be patched and levelled before three-coat surface systems are installed. New acrylic playing surfaces and raised perimeter areas with turf will be installed on courts 1-8.

 

“These upgrades will enable Armidale to host netball carnivals involving players from across the New England region and encourage locals to take up the sport, improving health and fitness and helping people to socialise through sport.”

 

Mr Barilaro said the Stronger Country Communities Fund was helping to enrich the lives of residents in regional communities.

 

“The NSW Government is investing record amounts to deliver the big picture infrastructure needed to stimulate economies and boost drought resilience, but we’re also backing community projects that make a big positive difference to everyday life,” Mr Barilaro said.

 

“Resurfacing the Lynches Road netball courts is exactly the kind of project Stronger Country Community Fund round two was designed to deliver and I congratulate the Armidale District Netball Association members on their commitment to this important project.”

 

The $500 million Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which together with the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund is delivering once-in-a-generation infrastructure that generates opportunities, investment and jobs.

 

Round Four of the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund will open on 1 May 2021, with up to $50 million to be made available for the delivery and enhancement of women’s sporting facilities, including change rooms.

 

Guidelines and information on eligible applicants will be available on the Regional Growth Fund website in coming months.

 

For more information, visit www.nsw.gov.au/strongercountrycommunities

Recent Articles

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE MARK

25th March 2024

Monday, 25 March 2024 MARK Coulton is without doubt the hardest-working and dedicated local MP I have ever had the... Read More

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: RURAL & REGIONAL CRIME INQUIRY BEGINS

22nd March 2024

Friday, 22 March 2024 NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is encouraging local residents to contribute to the newly-established regional crime... Read More

FIRST PART OF MOREE LAW & ORDER PACKAGE PASSES LOWER HOUSE

20th March 2024

Wednesday, 20 March 2024 MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has welcomed the passage of the bail reform legislation through... Read More