Kicking goals for the future – Council approves Riddles Oval Master Plan

There will be a brighter future ahead for upcoming sports stars in the Goondiwindi Region as Goondiwindi Regional Council approves a master plan for the Riddles Oval Complex.

Council approved a revised master plan for the facility as submitted by the Goondiwindi Sporting and Recreation Association Inc. (GSRA) during its February Ordinary Meeting. The adoption of the plan will empower the GSRA to pursue the kinds of projects they wish to achieve at the facility and to source external funding opportunities to bring those goals to life.

Future projects outlined in the plan include women’s dressing rooms, shade structures over the netball courts, solar panels, lighting upgrades, and many more.

Cr Lachlan Brennan holds Council’s portfolio for Lifestyle, including sports and recreation, and said the new master plan will ensure local decision-making can continue to drive the future of the facility.

“This community-led model provides opportunity and potential for community groups to identify their own goals and priorities and work together to achieve those outcomes,” Cr Brennan said. “Council’s support of this plan ensures community-led strategies for a community facility – it’s setting out the goals we want to kick for the future,” he said.

“With the plan in place, it will be easier for the GSRA to secure external funding towards projects that matter – just like we saw with the wonderful new fence around the cricket oval in 2018.”

Council owns the Riddles Oval Complex, which is operated in partnership with the GSRA. GSRA manage the day-to-day operations of the facility, including bookings, and are also responsible for a range of costs associated with the facility. The GSRA research and submit their own applications for available grants. Council’s parks and gardens team help to maintain the oval, including mowing and watering the various fields in the complex.

President of the GSRA Terry Gleeson said the master plan would support the group’s ongoing effort to improve the facility.

“As a committee, we feel very strongly about not only maintaining the Riddles Oval Complex to its best, but continually improving it to ensure we can pass down a first-rate facility to future generations. Goondiwindi has a reputation for its teams and individuals to punch well above their weight on the sporting field.

“Continually improving our facilities not only helps our athletes perform better, but puts us in the mix to bring larger-scale events to town. Such events can be of benefit to the entire Goondiwindi Region community, but especially to businesses that supply the goods and services that support large community events, both directly and indirectly.”

Cr Brennan said the Goondiwindi Region’s reputation for great sporting facilities underpinned the region’s strong tourism market related to sporting events such as the recent Hell of the West and the upcoming Downs Rugby Junior Opening Carnival, which will be held at Riddles.

“I’ve been told numerous times by various sporting clubs from across the state that Goondiwindi’s sports facilities are the best in the west,” Cr Brennan said. “Facilities like Riddles contribute significantly to the liveability of the region, and it’s not just about recreation - we know that good sports facilities empower people to enjoy physical activity to improve their health,” he said. “For example, statistics show that children who grow up playing sport are also 10% more likely to remain active as adults.

“We all know there’s no ‘I’ in team, and with a network of 25+ parks and gardens, I  also want to say a big thank you to the many council staff involved in keeping Riddles and our region’s many sports facilities looking as good as they do,” he said. “There’s a lot of hours that go into ensuring these facilities are their best for the community.”

Council’s adoption of the master plan for Riddles Oval aligns with a commitment to sport and recreation in the Goondiwindi Region that provides economic, social, mental and physical health benefits to the community.

The Riddles Oval complex is available for hire for events and interested parties should contact the committee directly to book. Earnings are re-invested back into the maintenance of the facility.