Penrith City Council has celebrated the construction of a new fully accessible amenities building at Mark Leece Sporting Complex in St Clair.
The facility includes male and female change rooms, a referees’ room, canteen, first aid room, toilets, improved storage and verandah.
The $1.7 million project was funded by the NSW Government through the Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund in association with Council.
Penrith Mayor, Tricia Hitchen said the project forms part of Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy to provide the infrastructure the community needs to live an active and healthy lifestyle.
“The previous building was out of date with inadequate storage facilities, accessibility issues and changing rooms which didn’t cater well for female users. We are very pleased to now be able to provide a facility that is fit for purpose.”
“We are also appreciative of the support we’ve received from the State Government and the hard work of Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies which made this possible,” Mayor Hitchen said.
The new amenities building will service 675 St Clair United Soccer Club members and 151 St Clair Netball Club players as well as local schools.
Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies said the amenities block had been much needed.
“The sporting clubs that rely on the amenities block at Mark Leece Oval knew first-hand how desperately a new block was needed. Thanks to the Minister for Sport, we were able to secure funding for a complete knockdown and rebuild,” she said.
“I am thrilled to stand here today to open this wonderful amenities building. This is a game-changer for the St Clair United Soccer Club and St Clair Netball Club, encouraging more people to participate in sport,” Mrs Davies said.
The upgrades complement Council’s $500,000 investment in recent years at the complex in floodlighting, field reconstruction, irrigation and the conversion of an unused reserve area to create a training facility.
Find out more about Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy projects at: penrith.city/sportandrecreationstrategy
