The ball was bounced for the first time at the new sporting oval within Wayne Richards Park on Saturday for the first scheduled AFL match at the ground.
Finishing touches last week saw AFL goal posts erected and line markings completed, ensuring the oval was match ready for the Port Macquarie Magpie’s weekend home-round fixtures.
Director of Infrastructure Services Jeffery Sharp said sport was an integral part of the Port Macquarie-Hastings community, with the project another step forward for the region’s development.
“Wayne Richards Park is a multi-purpose regional sporting facility that will see a range of sports including soccer, cricket and mountain biking utilise the facility throughout the year,” Mr Sharp said.
“This project is the result of a collaborative partnership between council and local sporting clubs and delivers another premier sporting facility for the local government area, essential for our youth and sporting future.”
Prior to installation of the turf and cricket pitch, a sub-surface drainage and automatic irrigation system was also fixed beneath the playing surface and the provision of 200 lux lighting will make it one of the best lit facilities in our area.
Council received a number of submissions earlier in the year proposing to name the new AFL/cricket field. A decision was postponed at last month’s council meeting and is currently being reviewed the Administrator.
The project has been funded by council, state and federal governments, NSW/ACT AFL and Cricket NSW.
