Stadium ready for busy season after $2.5M upgrade

The Niagara Park Stadium upgrades to improve accessibility are now complete in time for a busy season of regional and state championships. 
The $2.5M project received $850,000 from the NSW Government for the upgrade works, with Central Coast Council funding the remaining contribution of $1,650,000 from planned capital expenditure.
With a focus on improving accessibility and delivering benefits to the community, the works included: disabled car park improvements; new driveway, accessible pedestrian pathway and entrance; improvements to player facilities including new accessible amenities; and new signage, improved façade and lighting for improved safety.
Upcoming events that will benefit from the upgrade include the Physical Culture Central Coast Champion Ladies Tournament, Central Coast Futsal Cup and Australian National Futsal League, as well as the Coastal Classic Basketball Tournament. 
Importantly, the stadium is also home to a range of school and club activities including basketball, netball, martial arts, futsal, indoor hockey, volleyball, trampolining and wheelchair sports. 
Director Community and Recreational Services Melanie Smith said Council undertook community consultation to inform the design and construction of the venue, which had resulted in an accessible modern facility.

“Niagara Park Stadium is a regional indoor sporting complex, and its facilities are widely used by schools, sporting clubs, and regional and state sporting organisations,” she said.

“The upgrades will support the increased access for people with a disability and enable them to participate in sport in the region and provide an opportunity to host both state and national events.
“We thank the patrons of the stadium and the community for their patience during the works and hope that everyone will enjoy the opportunity the upgrades now provide,” Smith said.
Minister for Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said the region was rapidly growing which was why we needed facilities upgrades like these to improve accessibility in sport for all who lived and played on the Coast.
“The NSW Government understands the importance of facilities like this, so I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to contribute $850,000 in funding to these crucial upgrades,” he said. 
“I look forward to seeing how these improvements will be utilised by our local sporting clubs, schools and state sporting organisations in the future.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart thanked the NSW Government for their funding support and said the Niagara Park Stadium upgrades provided people with a disability with the choice on how they wanted to participate in sport. 
“It is important that Council adapts its facilities and equipment to become more accessible and inclusive for the entire community,” he said. 
“Council is continuing to improve accessibility to its facilities for people living with a disability in the region.

“There are a lot of people who want to live an active, healthy lifestyle by either playing or participating in sport and so our facilities need to be inclusive so that all residents and visitors can enjoy these activities.”