Wollongong City Council media release: 8 May 2023

Wollongong City Council has endorsed the draft Bulli Showground Master Plan for community engagement. Soon, Council will ask community members to share their thoughts on what a new and improved Bulli Showground could look like.

Bulli Showground has been around since 1939 and has become one of the city’s most significant sport and recreation areas.

The draft Master Plan guides the future uses of the site and explains what upgrades Council is considering.

“We spoke with a number of key stakeholders including local sporting clubs, market operators, Destination Wollongong, commercial event organisers, the current lessee, Greyhounds NSW and community members to develop the draft Master Plan,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“There’s a lot of interest in Bulli Showground from the community. I think that people are recognising the potential for Bulli Showground to become an area that supports concerts and festivals, markets, retails shows, family events and as a sports training location and space for extreme or emerging sports activities.”

The draft Master Plan has been developed to support a range of uses and includes:

• Removal of greyhound racing infrastructure to make room for a reconfigured multi-use space
• Removal of the main building & grandstand
• Reconstructed grass arena with a rectangular configuration with sub-surface drainage and irrigation works enabling multiple sized sports playing areas
• A northern hardstand area for major stage and event infrastructure set up
• New floodlighting for night-time use
• New amenities & storage that are suitable for accommodating multiple users
• New large, covered area suitable for events and markets
• New building suitable with multi-use areas catering for events, commercial activities, indoor training, amenities
• Consolidated carparking areas
• Investigation to incorporate a dump point within the Showground
• A small park located on the southern area of the showground that could be utilised for active recreation opportunities.

In recent years Council has predominately leased the Bulli Showgrounds to NSW Greyhound Breeders Owners & Trainers Association. Greyhounds NSW has shared their plan to consolidate all Greyhound racing to their new site in Dapto with Council. This opens Council’s options and gives room for more opportunities to invest in Bulli Showground and transform it into a contemporary facility.

“Now that we’ve drafted the Master Plan, we’ll soon be calling for feedback. This is your opportunity to see what Council is proposing and get involved,” Cr Bradbery said.

“We want to know what you think about the ideas we’re presenting in the draft Master Plan. Have we gotten it right? Have we missed anything? You’ll have your opportunity to share feedback soon. So, keep this very significant project on your radar.”

The engagement will be shared on the Our Wollongong website soon. For now, follow Council on the City of Wollongong Facebook page for updates.