October 2018: Sport and Community the Big Winners from $10m Grant

The consolidation of the Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park (CCSLP), Coffs Harbour Education Campus, Southern Cross University and the Coffs Harbour Health Campus into a Regional Sports Hub has taken a significant step forward following today’s announcement of a $10m grant for Stage Two from the NSW Government’s Regional Sport Infrastructure Fund.

“This project will deliver sports facilities and infrastructure that meet the needs of all genders and people with a disability, as well as physically and strategically connecting the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, the Coffs Harbour Education Campus, and the Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park Precinct,” said Nikki Greenwood, Council’s Group Leader City Prosperity.

“The main objective of the project is to connect the sports sector and other complementary services physically, and through shared provision, for athletes and research students, leading to increased levels of participation for local sportspeople.

“As well as building on the opportunities for emerging and elite athletes, the Regional Sports Hub will help grow the local economy through the hosting of more and larger events. Economic modelling suggests that this stage of the project will create nearly 70 jobs during construction and a further nine jobs into the future. Work is already well under way on Stage One of the Regional Sports Hub – the current $13.4m joint Council and Australian Government-funded upgrade of C.ex Coffs International Stadium.”

The Coffs Coast Regional Sports Hub Stage Two includes:

• Three new fields (two synthetic and one grass) at CCSLP, with subsurface drainage and Australian Standard lighting;
• A new amenity block and extension to existing amenities including new change and officiating rooms, storage and canteen;
• A new car park and access road for new fields and much needed major event parking;
• Connectivity throughout the precinct, including new shared paths between the sports, education and health campuses;
• Business case and studies for a proposed Stage Three (a regional indoor sports facility).

Professor Les Christidis, Head, Coffs Harbour Campus, Southern Cross University said: “Southern Cross University is a long-time strategic partner of Coffs Harbour City Council and has been working collaboratively to develop a shared vision for the city as a sporting and healthy city.

“Through our presence at the Coffs Harbour Education Campus, we are pursuing the development of a significant health sciences specialisation that will be housed in a flagship new $12m Stage 1 Health Sciences Building, which will provide specialist education, research and community service provision in sport and exercise science, sports psychology, occupational therapy, and indigenous health.

“Improving the connectivity between the education, health and sports campuses through the regional sports hub will provide myriad opportunities for our students and all users of each of these vital facilities.”