$1.2M upgrade for Wagga’s home of softball

The next stage in Wagga Wagga City Council’s upgrade at the city’s home of softball has started in the lead up to the sport’s new season.

A $1.2M facelift of the French Fields sporting precinct includes new lighting, carpark improvements, addressing stormwater issues and a brand new amenities block.

Demolition work on the old amenities block is expected to start next week before construction on the new 200sqm building begins on the same site.

The new building is expected to take approximately three months to complete and comes as Wagga Softball Association (WSA) prepares to celebrate its 50^th anniversary later in the year.

“The amenities block was identified as one of those most in need for an upgrade,” Council’s Strategic Recreation Officer Peter Cook said.

“So with the assistance of a State Government grant, Council decided to complete further works at the fields and this brings the precinct to a level where we can better attract major softball events.

“It’s a bigger facility which can cater for greater numbers … we want to help accommodate any future growth in the sport which is popular in the city.”

WSA President Amanda Wenham said an upgraded facility would be a huge benefit to the sport in Wagga at many levels.

“All this work helps with the local weekly competition from juniors through to seniors but also allows us to make a bid to host those bigger carnivals such as regional and state events,” Ms Wenham said.

“We’ve got excellent junior numbers which are growing and that augurs well for the future of our sport in Wagga.”

The new amenities block will include a kiosk, meeting room, toilets and change rooms, separate umpires’ rooms and four storage rooms.

The current carpark will be sealed and stormwater run-off from the top field will be managed through upgraded pits and pipes along the northern boundary of the fields.

The lighting upgrade has recently been completed which provides greater training opportunities leading into the season which starts in October, and also night games in the hotter months.

Four 21-metre galvanised lighting poles fitted with LED floodlights have replaced six existing 18-metre poles.

Upgrading to LED lighting has many advantages such as energy savings, carbon emission reductions and no flicker. LED lights also have no UV emissions and attract less insects.

The new lights have a number of dimmer settings at 15%, 50% and 100%. The two main levels that will be used are:

• The 50% levels are 250 lux infield and 150 lux outfield which can be used for training and club matches.
• The 100% levels are 500 lux infield and 300 lux outfield which can be used for regional matches.

The State Government has allocated $820,000 to the upgrade through the Stronger Country Communities Fund with Council contributing another $380,000 to the project.