Long-awaited upgrades to Warnervale Oval have been postponed indefinitely by the Council, disappointing Wyong Athletic Centre, Toukley District Athletics Club and Warnervale Bulls Football Club who regularly use the facility.
Preliminary designs and environmental studies for Warnervale Oval had been completed before the plan was placed on “indefinite hold”.
The update would have included two new football fields, new athletic throws areas, new long jump pits and synthetic runways plus a concrete-based cricket pitch that would have run between the two football fields.
The Clubs were also looking forward to new equipment storage, new change room amenities and an upgraded car park.
Council said, due to financial issues, the project has been paused indefinitely until a funding source could be identified.
Wyong Athletic Centre has been using the grounds since 1997, while Toukley District has used it as its base since approximately 2004.
Prior to COVID, they counted 400 members and 70 members respectively who participated on each night of competitions.
Wyong Athletic Centre Treasurer Neil Hinton said the field was not in the greatest condition, suffering from an uneven surface, weeds, and boggy areas.
“It has always had poor drainage and we have lost a lot of nights due to the oval being closed.
There is no fencing around the athletics track so we put out bunting each week to keep spectators off the field of play.
“All of the athletics infrastructure was put in by our club during 1996 and 1997, including long jump pit and runways, discus cages and shot put circles.
“We funded this through the then Warnervale Park committee that provided grants as well as sports and recreation grants.
“A lot of these facilities needed repair and, as we were told of the upgrade, we did not apply for the many grants available to enable us to upgrade facilities.
“We were told that we would lose use of the fields during the Council upgrade for a season, and we were happy to look at how we could manage elsewhere for a season to get better facilities,” he said.
Council has stated that it will communicate appropriate updates on the Warnervale Athletics project with the community as required.
The NSW Government has channelled several grants to sporting clubs across the northern end of the Coast in the past year.
Clubs using Warnervale Oval were banking on Council maintaining its commitment.
Upgrades to the Adelaide Street Oval in Killarney Vale commenced last November with a $1.2M funding injection from NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund and NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants Program.
The Australian Football League and the Council came together to give $50,000 to the project.
Ten sports organisations on the Coast shared $13,000 in sports grants last year through the State Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.
Toukley Netball Club received $2,000; Central Coast Hockey Association, which is based in Wyong, received $15,000; Norah Head Surfing Fraternity purchased new competition rash shirts with its $1,00; and Norah Head Women in the Waves scored a $4,220 grant.
The Entrance Water Polo Club received $2,000, while Titans Swimming Club held a regional swimming carnival with its $2,680.
Wyong Warriors Sports Club received a $5,000 grant.
Wyong Rugby League Club also received $5,000 to purchase uniforms for the men and women of Bateau Bay Bowling Club.
The population of Warnervale is expected to boom in coming years with many new developments well on their way to completion.
Such is the expectation on the area, the NSW Government ploughed $38M into a new school which opened to 83 students at the start of this academic year.
Porters Creek Public School, which is approximately 500 metres from the existing Warnervale Public School encompasses 20 classrooms, a hall with Before and After School Care facilities, a library with two special programs rooms, landscaped external play spaces and a mini sports field.
Nicola Riches