New facilities for players, officials and spectators officially opened today at the home of Coffs City United in what the Mayor called another step in making Coffs Harbour the regional sports capital of New South Wales.
The Mayor officially opened a new canteen and gender-neutral change rooms at Forsyth Park in McLean Street, Coffs Harbour, at the cost of nearly $350,000. These are in addition to the $300,000 new public toilet facilities opened earlier this year.
Mayor Denise Knight said the gender-neutral change rooms would make the environment much more welcoming for girls and women.
“We’ll support women already in sport and more women coming into sport.
“We’re fast becoming the regional sports capital of New South Wales, the Mayor added.
Coffs United President, Jodi Wood, praised the work of volunteers who turned the new facilities from a dream into reality.
“The committee and volunteers have dedicated hundreds of hours over the years to this club. This year, we survived and prospered,” she said.
The new facilities at Forsyth Park were built with $182k from Coffs Harbour City Council, $149k from the Northern NSW Football and NSW Government Asian Cup Legacy Fund, $10k from Coffs City United Football Club and in-kind building work from club stalwart Frank Maione.
The opening of today’s facilities caps off a big year for sports infrastructure in the North Coast Football Zone.
The three levels of government either announced new work, started new work or opened a significant number of projects throughout the year, in addition to the project opened today.
These projects included:
- Work commencing on the $12.5 million Stage 2 development of the Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park, which contains two synthetic pitches
- The opening of the $1.6 million amenities building at Rushforth Park in Grafton
- $300,000 upgrade to facilities at Toormina Oval
- $232,056 upgrade to lighting at Dorrigo FC’s ground
- $150,000 grant for improved parking at Rushforth Park
- $100,000 upgrade to amenities at Woolgoolga United FC’s ground
- Lighting upgrades at Toormina Fields (Sawtell FC) and Polwarth Drive (Coffs Tigers FC)
North Coast Football said much remains to be done on football infrastructure across the zone.
NNSWF has recently completed an infrastructure strategy for football. The Premier of NSW launched this plan in Newcastle in October. A strategy for NCF Zone will cascade out of this and put to government in 2021.
ENDS