BY IAN CROUCH
The University of Newcastle Rugby Union Club has been successful in securing federal funding for a major upgrade of facilities at Bernie Curran Oval.
The $1.5 million grant comes from the Albanese Government's Play Our Way Program.
It will go towards providing two dedicated female changerooms, parents room, updated officials facilities, accessible ramp and a covered spectator area, with work due to start in late September next year and taking around 15 weeks to complete.
Federal Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon says it means the local women's rugby union, touch football and cricket teams will have the facilities they need and deserve.
"It's really fit for purpose now. There is absolutely no world in which we should see women changing in their cars (or) down in other sub-standard facilities (or not) have an equal footing in all of our sporting codes." she said.
University of Newcastle Rugby Union Vice President, Liam Wales Brown welcomed the grant, saying it will cover most of the $1.9 million construction cost. He said it will open opportunities for other codes to make use of the facilities once they're completed in 2026.
"It brings schools onto the field and a couple of other competitions we can't do at the moment, so that opportunity is fantastic. I believe cricket are looking at the opportunity to start their own women's side. League, I believe are also looking to expand, so there's a great opportunity here." he said.
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| Federal Newcastle Mp Sharon Claydon joined Vice Chancellor, Alex Zelinsky, NUsport Chief Executive Deborah Wright and members of the University of Newcastle Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs for the announcement |
