As the Central Coast gears up to host Germany and England for their team-base training camps during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, a key sporting facility is unavailable for public use.
Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex at Tuggerah is closed until Monday, August 21, so the German women’s team can have exclusive use for training and rehabilitation.
The team will be based locally for the duration of the tournament as they prepare for their Group H games against Morocco (July 24 in Melbourne), Columbia (July 30 in Sydney) and South Korea (August 3 in Brisbane).
Team England will also have exclusive use of Central Coast Stadium for training before taking on their Group D opponents Haiti (July 22 in Brisbane), Demark (July 28 in Sydney), and China (August 1 in Adelaide).
Due to the requirements of the tournament, public access to the venue will be strictly controlled with enhanced security procedures.
The public is also reminded that personal drones are not be permitted to fly in the airspace of the Tuggerah sporting complex during training days.
Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said that while it would be an imposition on the community the benefits of hosting the German contingent could not be overstated.
“I understand that it will be an interruption to the community who regularly use the parklands to walk their dogs or to exercise,” she said.
“We recommend using the Council approved dog park which is about 800m down the road on Church St.
“There are many great walking tracks and beaches in the beautiful northern part of the Central Coast, and this is a great opportunity to explore the local area.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the eyes of the world will be on the Central Coast.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart is counting down the days to the tournament.
“It’s been a huge few months for football on the Central Coast with the decision of Germany and England to base themselves in our beautiful part of the world, the introduction of a Central Coast Mariners women’s team for next season, and of course, an amazing championship win by the Mariners in the A League,” he said.
“The Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex is an amazing world-class venue and I believe it will greatly aid the German team in their preparations.
“I look forward to welcoming both teams to the Coast.”
Match day information, news, and ticket sales is available at the official FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ website.
Source:
Central Coast Council
While it’s exciting that our complex has been selected as the training grounds for the German Women’s football team, I share the disappointment of the local community at losing access to this key amenity for two months. It’s crucial that international events should not overshadow the rights of local communities. Perhaps in the future, a more balanced approach can be adopted, such as designated public access hours. Our support for the Women’s World Cup remains undiminished, but community access to public spaces is also important.
Because this is all about you. It’s a World Cup and you can’t walk somewhere else (the dog park down the road). Don’t be so selfish and absorb the atmosphere.
Are there any ‘“Open’ training sessions planned for Germany and England Teams at the two venues