Local football players, including those with special needs and their carers will benefit from an injection of $750,000 in funding from the Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund which will go towards building a new Inclusive Sports Amenities Building at Charles Pirie Reserve, Kogarah Bay.
NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres MP visited Charles Pirie Reserve last week with Oatley MP Mark Coure to announce the $750,000 funding for a new inclusive amenities block.
Georges River Council is also allocating $1 million bringing the total cost to $1.75 million with construction expected to start in February.
“Charles Pirie Reserve is home to Carss Park Football Club and the special needs program, St George Warriors,” Georges River Council mayor Kevin Greene said.
“The Special Needs Program has grown to four teams in the space of a few short years, and the Charles Pirie Reserve amenities building does not currently comply with minimum standards, provides no access for disabled players or carers, and is located in a flood-prone location.
“Provision of the new Charles Pirie Reserve Inclusive Sports Amenities Building will result in the St George Warriors program being expanded to adults, with participation likely to increase by 100 per cent in the first year.
“Additional Inclusive Regional Football Gala Days are also proposed in late 2019 to include teams from surrounding Council areas that don’t have the opportunity to play together.
“The new facility has been designed to meet the needs of everyone, with all areas of the facility to be modified to enable access for players and their carers.
“A significant inclusion is the ‘Changing Places’ adult change facility which will benefit both the venue and the community by providing a full-sized change table to meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families,” Councillor Greene said.
The new facility will also include a canteen, storage, gender neutral change rooms, referees’ room, medical room, public amenities and a covered barbeque area.
An accessible ramp has been incorporated into the design to ensure that all users can access the fields from the new building, which will be relocated away from the flood prone area.
