Hundreds of local players, volunteers and families are set to benefit from continued upgrades at Ron Harborne Oval, with Moree Plains Shire Council delivering improved facilities that support community sport now and into the future.
The latest works have transformed the oval’s canteen amenities, delivering new shower facilities, male and female change rooms and a meeting room above the canteen. The upgrades provide local sporting clubs with modern, functional spaces to prepare for games, hold meetings and support volunteers throughout the season.
A new out-of-flood storage pad has also been constructed, giving clubs a secure place to store equipment during flood events, while newly installed CCTV will improve security across the precinct.
Mayor Susannah Pearse recently visited Ron Harborne Oval with Deputy MayorWayne Tighe and Project Manager David Mangelsdorf to inspect the completed works.
Pearse said Council’s investment was about supporting the people who use the precinct every week.
“Ron Harborne Oval is a valued sporting hub for our community and these upgrades are about ensuring our clubs, volunteers and visitors have modern, functional facilities that meet the needs of local sporting clubs,” said Pearse.
The improvements are already making a difference for one of the precinct’s biggest user groups. Moree Junior Soccer Club President Ben Dawson said around 350 players take to the fields every Saturday, with about 20 matches played each week during the season.
“The new renovations to the amenities look fantastic and are exactly what our town deserves. We’ve been hearing great feedback from our players and families about the upgrades and are appreciative of the work Council does to prepare the fields each week,” said Dawson.
“We have around 350 players using Ron Harborne Oval every Saturday, with roughly 20 rounds of soccer played there each week, so it’s an important facility for our club. We couldn’t be happier with the result,”
The completed amenities build on other recent improvements across the precinct, including the replacement of 28 lights around the cricket oval to improve evening training and matches.
Further upgrades are planned, including new synthetic cricket pitches to provide high-quality playing surfaces for local teams. New perimeter lighting at the netball courts has also been installed, creating opportunities for future night competitions and increased community use.
Moree Junior Cricket Club President Mick Jenson said the upgrades would benefit players and families throughout the cricket season.
“We’re really happy with the upgrades Council has made to the amenities. They’ve brought the facilities up to scratch and created a much better experience for the players and families.” said Jenson.
“The upgrades to the cricket pitches and lighting will make a real difference when the season gets underway in October. We have around 140 kids playing cricket across 12 teams each season, so these facilities will get plenty of use from the Cricket Club. We’re looking forward to getting out there and making the most of them,”
Council will continue delivering staged improvements at Ron Harborne Oval to ensure the precinct remains a high-quality venue for sport, recreation and community events, supporting participation across all ages and helping local clubs continue to grow.
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