The new clubhouse and changerooms at the Narrandera Sportsground were officially opened on Saturday with the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joining the Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka and members of the local community for the big event.

Ms Cooke said project funding had been a collective effort with the NSW and Federal Governments, Narrandera Shire Council, AFL Riverina and the Narrandera Imperial Football-Netball Club, which all provided support to the development.

“I would like to acknowledge all the hardworking individuals involved in making this dream project a reality, including Project Manager, the late Noel Crichton, Narrandera Shire Council Deputy General Manager Shane Wilson and the Narrandera Imperial Football-Netball Club Clubrooms Committee, Joyleen Hutchins, Mark Savage, Graham Flynn and Gavin Sullivan,” Ms Cooke said.

“These upgrades will also hopefully help put the Narrandera Sportsground on the map as a perfect space to attract national sporting fixtures such as the AFL which would be a huge boost to the community and local business owners.”

Through the NSW Government’s Stronger Countries Community Fund, the Narrandera Imperial Football-Netball Club was awarded $100,000 for the project under Round 3 and a further $160,000 was given to the Narrandera Shire Council for the development under Round 4.

Mayor Kschenka said he was elated to see the new space open and being utilised.

“This impressive facility will significantly increase our opportunity and viability in attracting regional sporting events, meeting state level standards for many sporting codes.

“Importantly, it provides our local people – men, women, boys and girls, with the very best in terms of changerooms, spectator viewing and clubhouse facilities, adding high value – to what is widely recognised as the best sportsground in the Riverina.

“A passion project in the pipeline for many years, the clubhouse and change rooms have come to fruition through the hard work of several community members who lobbied and garnered support from both the Federal and State Governments, Council and from local community businesses and residents who have supported this opportunity for growth in our sporting area,” Mayor Kschenka said.

The space features two levels, with the ground floor offering changerooms for home and visitor teams, a warm-up space, an umpires’ room, and a medical room for each team. The upper floor boasts an open clubroom with a kitchen, bar, outdoor servery, and a decking area looking out over the field.

Mayor Kschenka said the project was collectively funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health for $1.4 million, the NSW Government through the Stronger Country Communities Round three fund for $100,000, Narrandera Shire Council for $315,000, AFL Riverina for $100,000 and the Narrandera Imperial Football and Netball Club for $73,360.

Local and regional organisations were also recognised for their contributions with financial donations and the donation of equipment to the facility.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 5 May 2022.