The ACT Government is upgrading sportsgrounds across Canberra to make sports facilities female friendly and improve community access to training and match play.

Construction is about to begin on a suite of upgrades following funding provided in the 2022-23 ACT Budget. The government has allocated $126,000 to improve sport and recreation facilities.

The program for this financial year will deliver more female friendly upgrades, improved cricket facilities, irrigation and drainage upgrades, and new LED lighting.

This is in addition to significant investment in the Gungahlin Tennis Centre ($9.9 million), Phillip Oval, and the Throsby Home of Football ($9 million).

• Improvements at Canberra sportsgrounds (17 December 2021)

This week, construction begins on female friendly improvements to pavilions in Nicholls, Rivett, and Kambah. Next year, Kingston Oval will also receive female friendly upgrades.

“The ACT Government is committed to reducing barriers to participation for woman and girls in sport and recreation activities,” said Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation.

“We are upgrading facilities to include new partitions, shelves, and mirrors. Having these changeroom inclusions available across Canberra will not only cater to the growing participation of females in sport, but also provide them with the facilities they both need and deserve.”

From this week, work will get underway at the dryland oval at the Holt District Playing Fields to bring it back online for future competition, standard training, and match play.

“New irrigation, sportsground lighting, and a playing surface will be installed providing a place for all Canberrans to keep active – or progress from grassroots to elite sport, if that’s their dream,” Ms Berry said.

“West Belconnen is growing, and sports participation is growing, too. It’s important our sporting facilities can keep up with both current and future community growth.

“Once complete, this project will increase the capacity of not only the Holt District Playing Fields but also West Belconnen for more training and match play facilities for organised sport.”

In the next 12 months, sportsgrounds in Watson, Deakin, and Scullin will receive new lighting, and sportsgrounds in Gowrie and Higgins will have their lighting upgraded. This will provide greater flexibility to schedule events and enable games to be played after sunset, Ms Berry said.

Under the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the ACT Government is replacing fencing at the Kaleen and Boomanulla enclosed ovals; works are underway at Boomanulla. The Government is also improving facilities at the Ngunnawal neighbourhood oval; parking improvements and a new toilet block will come in 2023.

“The ACT Government is building for Canberra’s future to ensure Canberra remains one of the most liveable cities in the world for decades to come,” Ms Berry said.

Learn more about the sports upgrades near you at www.cityservices.act.gov.au.