The official opening of the Goolwa Oval Recreation Precinct was held yesterday,  Thursday 13 June.

Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes was joined by Senator for South Australia Karen Grogan and state Legislative Council MP Reggie Martin for the event.

The federal government contributed $5 million towards this $8.2 million projectwith the state government providing an $800,000 Grassroots Grant.

Alexandrina Council funded the remaining $2.4 million.

Senator Grogan represented the federal Minister for Infrastructure and Mr Martin represented the South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Others attending the opening ceremony at the new clubrooms included local federal MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie,  state MP for Finniss David Basham and representatives from affiliated football, cricket, hockey, netball, tennis, and croquet clubs and the Lions Club of Goolwa.

“The Goolwa Oval Recreation Precinct project set out to create a modern, accessible, and adaptable sporting and community precinct in the heart of Goolwa,” says Mayor Keith Parkes.

“Built over two stages, we now have facilities that meet modern standards for change rooms, toilets, playing surfaces, lighting, scoring and storage.

“The upgrades also feature many sustainable features such as solar panels, rainwater storage and recycled materials. 

“We also installed much-needed stormwater infrastructure that collects the runoff from playing surfaces and pipes it to the wetlands near the oval to be recycled as irrigation water for the oval’s grassed areas.

“As a council and a community, we look forward to the future growth and collaboration of the many clubs who call this precinct home.

“Sport is an important part of community life in Alexandrina and our clubs are run by many hardworking volunteers.”

As well as the new multisport facilities the precinct include a new, spacious, relocated Book Market Shed for the Lions Club of Goolwa with an accessible toilet, kitchen, office, and sorting area.

It also features open green space, shelters, park furniture and a playground, as well as accessible public toilets open to the public and oval grounds seven days per week during daylight hours.