This year, the players will have an additional eight freshly upgraded courts to play on thanks to a four-month project delivered by Wollongong City Council.
The refurbishment is the second stage of works at the popular courts. As part of this stage, eight courts were resurfaced to reduce the incidences of asphalt cracking and there was also sub-structure drainage work to address issues with water pooling on the courts during and after severe weather events.
The courts were painted and line-marked to ensure they comply with Netball Australia Technical Guidelines and there was an extension of the existing lighting and sound infrastructure to improve player and spectator safety.
“We’re delighted to see the second phase of work finishing up at Fred Finch Park and in time for some of the best and brightest players from across the state coming to Wollongong for a carnival,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“The work that has been undertaken here build on what was done during phase one last year and will not only make for a better and safer experience for players but make the courts more resilient to future weather events.
“Given the recent weather that we’ve been experiencing and the impact it has had on weekend sports, this can only be a good thing. We know netball is one of the most popular club sports in the city, and we’re keen to see players out enjoying the exercise and social interaction team sports provide.’’
The work in the second stage received $1M in funding from the NSW Government under its Essential Community Sports Assets Program Infrastructure Grants.
It follows the first stage of work which was completed in early 2023 and included the upgrade of 16 of the Park’s netball courts.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said that the works will make the courts better and safer for players, officials, spectators and their families, as well as offering greater resilience to future weather events.
"Fred Finch Park is the home of netball in the Illawarra, and these improvements will enable the facility to host Netball NSW State carnivals providing economic benefit to the community and better playing and officials’ facilities,” Mr Scully said.
"I’m pleased that the NSW Government has been able to provide $1 million in funding, in addition to the $1 million for the first stage of the work, that is a key asset for local sport but also for Wollongong’s southern suburbs.
"This project is a prime example of state and local governments and communities working together to upgrade local assets. "
Illawarra District Netball Association President Peiti Haines said during the April to September competition season approximately 2500 players, volunteers and spectators were at the courts each week to participate in netball.
“Fred Finch Park is the home of netball in the Illawarra and that the completed works builds a platform for the future of sport in the area,” Ms Haines said.
“We were really thrilled to have the second stage of netball courts completed. Some of the existing courts were unusable following years of surface degradation and every rain or weather event adding to this problem. The players now have new surfaces to play on which are more resilient in wet weather. Given the season we have had so far in 2024, this has been a blessing with many other sports needing to close grounds and cancel where we have been able to minimise disruption to our season,
“The ongoing support from Wollongong City Council, Netball NSW as well as State and Federal Government grants has brought this facility to a great competition standard for teams from across the Illawarra area.
“We are proud to work in partnership with Illawarra Sports Stadium to continue to advocate for support for the stadium expansion with which will also include updated facilities for our players, volunteers and spectators as they enjoy these amazing courts. We also continue to work with Wollongong City Council to consider how our northern region may also be better resourced for safe, accessible and local training facilities.”
Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said Council continued to be grateful to the NSW Government for their funding grants that helped Council to deliver important infrastructure for our community.
“Each Saturday morning, you’ll see parents, grandparents and carers on the sidelines here at Fred Finch Park cheering on their kids, grandkids and community members as they test their skills on the netball courts,’’ he said.
“It’s really important to us that we’re providing the best facilities we can to support these potential sporting superstars of tomorrow as well as those who just enjoy the camaraderie of the game and the health benefits being in outside and running around provides.
“Council has a limited budget and we want it to go as far as we can to the benefit of everyone in our community. With the support of the NSW Government, and through their grants’ programs we’re able to deliver important improvements to spaces like this, while continuing to deliver upgraded local roads, improved footpaths and lifeguards on our beaches.’’
