Cessnock City Council Mayor Jay Suvaal was delighted to celebrate the reopening of the Baddeley Park Hockey Field, marking the successful completion of the recent upgrade works.
The improvements included the removal of the previous playing surface and remediation of the playing field base, as well as the installation of a new rubber shock pad and hybrid synthetic grass surface, enabling greater flexibility to Cessnock District Hockey Association.
The $752,895 project was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments as part of the Community Assets Program through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements after the 2022 floods.
The revitalised hockey field provides a safer playing surface and is poised to support a wide range of recreational and social engagements that are pivotal to fostering community health and wellbeing.
Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said the completion of the Baddeley Park Hockey Field upgrade project marked an important milestone in Cessnock’s recovery journey from the floods.
“Local sport plays a vital role to promote social recovery and benefit community wellbeing when recovering from a disaster,” Mr Repacholi said.
“The Albanese Government is pleased to support this project which has helped Cessnock City Council to repair Baddeley Park Hockey Field, and also make sure it’s better able to withstand future severe weather events.”
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said strong community assets are vital for the economic and social recovery of towns impacted by natural disasters like storms and floods.
“Baddeley Park Hockey Field now has a surface that is more resilient, accessible and can be played wet or dry and even during times of drought,” Minister Moriarty said.
“Participation in hockey at Cessnock has suffered due to the damage caused by the 2022 floods, however with this upgrade complete hockey will be restored as a prominent sport offering for the community.”
“Through the Community Assets Program the Australian and NSW Governments have shown their commitment to supporting recovery projects that bring people together, boost preparedness for future disasters and encourage economic recovery.”
Cessnock City Mayor Jay Suvaal, a keen hockey player himself, expressed his enthusiasm at the completion of the works, emphasising Council’s steadfast dedication to delivering top-tier recreational spaces for local residents.
“The upgrades to this beloved local sporting facility underscore Cessnock City Council’s on-going commitment to providing safe, high quality recreation spaces that enrich the lives of our residents,” said Clr Suvaal.
“This revitalisation ensures our community can continue to enjoy active, healthy lifestyles for years to come.”
To see this year’s full capital works program, .
