It's a project that is very close to Blayney councillor David Kingham's heart, building separate change rooms for women at King George Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That dream is now set to become a reality thanks to a $750,000 grant courtesy of the Australian Government's Building Better Regions Fund.
Not only will the change rooms be built, but the current facilities will also be repurposed.
The men's change rooms will be upgraded, a toilet for people with a disability will be built, new storerooms installed and a change room for female referees will also constructed.
Blayney Shire Council will add $255,594 to the two year project taking the total value to $1,055,594.
Cr Kingham described the announcement as a 'wow' moment for Blayney sport.
READ ALSO: Sculpture by the bush entries still open
"This is a great example of the Blayney shire sports council identifying the greatest need for the men and women in sports," he said.
Convincing the Blayney councillors of benefits of hosting regional carnivals and giving adequate time to the Council staff to write the Kicking Goals for Girls submission were the key to securing the grant Cr Kingham said.
"The federal government acknowledged the commercial benefits to Blayney business of a $1m investment," he said.
Sports council member Adam Hornby said that Cr Kingham deserved due recognition for the work that he put into the project.
"Of all the councillors he's been the only one who has really being pushing to have these facilities built for our girls," he said.
"He can see the financial potential and benefits of large scale netball and women's rugby league carnivals."
Member for Calare and Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, Andrew Gee said that the development brings this much-loved community sports facility into the modern era.
"This investment will create safe and fit for purpose amenities that cater for netball teams, league tag, junior rugby league, Little Athletics and girls' cricket," he said.
"It will see the creation of local jobs while encouraging spending from visitors from weekend carnivals at local businesses."
Mayor Scott Ferguson said that the project will commence in the Spring of 2021.
"With no sport this year, we can't take the oval away from the clubs next year as well," he said.
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
