Nuriootpa footballer Brooke Edson (left), Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll, Barossa mayor BimLange and footballer Mercedes Flaherty-Holtham were at Nuriootpa’s Centennial Park on Friday,where $556,250 worth of grants were announced for Barossa sporting clubs. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
BOTH Nuriootpa and Tanunda Ovals are set for an upgrade after last week’s State Budget revealed a combined $556,250 for new change rooms and floodlights.
Nuriootpa’s Centennial Park will receive a $350,000 grant to upgrade its existing change rooms to become unisex, while two new unisex change rooms will also be built.
Down the road in Tanunda, the oval will receive a $206,250 grant to install new floodlights.
The grants come after a successful application from the Barossa Council to the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, the South Australian National Football League, South Australian Cricket Association and Netball SA.
Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll said the funding is an example of the State Government and Barossa Council working together to deliver the council’s ‘The Big Project’.
“These improvements will go a long way to bringing our recreational facilities up to modern standards,” he said.
“With significant growth in both junior and women’s local sport recently, the timing couldn’t be better.
“Regional sporting clubs are the heartbeat of grassroots sports in South Australia, and the Marshall Government is committed to investing in activities which help to keep people active and healthy.”
The Nuriootpa change room project is valued at $890,000, with Barossa Council set to contribute $410,000 to the project and the Nuriootpa football and netball clubs to commit $130,000.
New floodlights at Tanunda Oval will cost $412,500, with Barossa Council to match the State Government’s grant of $206,250.
Barossa mayor Bim Lange said sporting facilities in the Barossa were facing “upward pressure” to support increased competition and participation.
“Importantly, we have worked closely with SACA and SANFL to ensure our facilities and ovals meet contemporary standards,” he said.
“This reinforces our joint commitment to establishing the Barossa as a premier regional sports event tourism destination for AFL and cricket in South Australia.
“These upgrades improve our capacity to attract and host high-profile sporting events, and also support a healthy grassroots competition and increased local participation, health and wellbeing outcomes across multiple codes including AFL, netball and cricket.
“We’re also grateful to local sporting clubs who are at the heart of our community and support our vision for The Big Project.”
