New fencing to improve sporting safety at Barry McGregor Oval

The safety of players, spectators and their families at the Barry McGregor Oval in Goondiwindi will soon be improved with the installation of new fencing early in the new year.

The Oval is part of the larger Gilbert Oval complex in Goondiwindi, and the new fencing will complete an existing fence that separates the Gilbert Oval from the Newell Highway on its eastern side. The new fence will also run along the site’s southern boundary to separate the Barry McGregor Oval from the Macintyre River.

Goondiwindi Regional Council will allocate $15,000 from the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program Grant towards the project. Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the project was prioritised to ensure the safety of all who use the facilities.

“Our sports grounds are a huge source of pride in our region. The Barry McGregor Oval is a tremendously popular facility and a home ground to numerous sporting groups - from the junior cricket to soccer and the Little Athletics,” the Mayor said. “I’m extremely pleased to be able to announce Council’s success in acquiring external funding for this project.”

The Gilbert Recreation Association Inc. operates the Gilbert Oval complex under a lease arrangement with Council, and Council funds the group $25,000 annually for the site’s management and operation. The funding goes towards general operational expenses, ongoing maintenance at the complex, and the management of all bookings. It also contributes towards specific projects as identified by the Association, such as the installation of new goalposts in 2019 and new drinking water fountains at both ovals in 2020.

Peter Sullivan is the president of the Gilbert Recreation Association Inc. He said the new fencing would mean sports would be safer for all those who used the grounds.

“We’re extremely pleased to have the new fencing installed as it will provide better protection to players and spectators from the nearby highway and river,” Mr Sullivan said. “Ultimately, that means safer sports for all of us.

“Council’s ongoing funding empowers the Association to get on with all the general maintenance and repairs that come with managing a sporting complex - everything from pest control to the plumbing. It also means we can steadily tick off our own wish list of upgrades and projects to improve the grounds.”

The work will complement a suite of recent safety upgrades at numerous parks in the region, including several projects at the popular Sandhurst Street Park in Goondiwindi and the replacement of old timber posts with new long-lasting bollards at a number of other parks.

Cr Springborg said that external funding sources such as the LRCI Program Grant were an opportunity to invest in the region’s community infrastructure.

“The renewal and development of the region’s community infrastructure is a priority for this Council, especially where safety is concerned,” Cr Springborg said. "Funding these types of projects externally means we maximise the ratepayer dollar towards other projects in the region," he said.

Work is anticipated to commence in January and installation is expected to take one week. Council will engage a local contractor to install the fencing.