Sir Jack Brabham Park will be the next venue to receive its own dedicated female changerooms, further encouraging women’s sport in Orange.
Orange City Council has awarded the tender for the $690,000 project and work is expected to begin later this month.
The purpose-built amenities block will include:
SPORTSFIELD: Map showing the location of the new female amenities block at Jack Brabham Park.
- changerooms, showers and toilets for two teams
- a referees’ room with two showers and toilet
- a dedicated first aid room
- an accessible bathroom
Orange City Council’s Sport and Recreation Committee Chair Cr Tamy Greenhalgh has welcomed the start of work.
“We need to make sure we are ready as sporting clubs across Australia are reporting a sharp jump in the number of girls and young women signing up to take part in organised sport, in the wake of the Matildas’ brilliant effort in the Women’s World Cup,” Cr Greenhalgh said.
“Councils need to be on the front foot to meet this challenge by creating the infrastructure we need. The new sports precinct is on track to deliver eight new fields, and this new amenities block will also make a contribution.”
The building will be constructed on the Huntley Road side of Sir Jack Brabham Park, just north of the current amenities block. It is expected there will be a loss of small number of parking spaces.
“It’s fitting that in the wake of the World Cup, the ground where round-ball football is played the most in Orange is the location where the next changerooms for women will be built,” Cr Greenhalgh said.
“The number of women officiating in major codes is also growing and it’s good to see the new building will have a dedicated referees’ room.”
Funding for the project is shared between:
- the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities program ($500K) and,
- Orange City Council ($290K)
It is expected the new building will be ready for use early in the 2024 football season.
