Wollongong City Council today issued a statement, titled 'Update on Beaton Park', after a community backlash over its plans for the Illawarra Hawks at Ted Tobin Hall.
Read council's full statement below:
We know there have been some conversations from local sporting groups about ongoing community access to Beaton Park, and Ted Tobin Hall that is within this facility.
Right now, Council is considering the use of Beaton Park facilities, including Ted Tobin Hall, and we have been talking with users of the facility as part of this process.
We appreciate this can raise uncertainty within established groups and organisations who have a history with this site.
However, as Council has advised representatives of local table tennis, badminton and pickleball clubs who currently use the site, they’re able to use Ted Tobin Hall and we will continue to support and uphold the established regular bookings.
It’s important to our community that Council is able to support and offer access to facilities across the city that suits a wide range of sports and social pursuits.
Beaton Park has a long history as the Gwynneville site has been used for a wide range of sports since the tennis courts were established in 1957 and the first two basketball courts within the Snake Pit built in 1964.
Basketball is one of the highest growing participation sports for children, young people and adults in Australia. It has been identified that we need to further support the development of basketball from community pathways to elite sport in Wollongong.
While we are one of only two regional cities in Australia to have a professional basketball team – and a National Basketball League founding club – Council is taking a holistic approach to this site.
This means, we are not focussed on supporting access only to a professional team, but everyone from juniors who are members of the Illawarra Basketball Association through to elite representatives in the Illawarra Hawks and Rollerhawks.
The future of Beaton Park isn’t just about access to Ted Tobin Hall.
As our city grows, we are faced with the challenge of improving accessibility to, and opportunities for, sporting groups and clubs as well as individuals to access spaces across the city. To do this effectively, we need to be responsive and flexible and explore new ways of playing.
Today, Beaton Park is also a site known for its athletics track, named in honour of Kerryn McCann, its indoor pool and gym and the well-established tennis courts.
Right now, with the support of the NSW State and Federal Governments we’re investing significantly in the upgrade of its tennis courts. Once finished, it’ll be a Regional Tennis Hub with 14 new courts. Eight of these will be acrylic hard courts at an International Tennis Federation standard, and some of the courts have been designed to offer outdoor pickleball play.
These refurbishments are in line with community expectations and needs and acknowledges the facility needs to cater not only for the current users, but for new users into the future.
They’re also covered in the Beaton Park Regional Precinct Master Plan, which guides the development of the site and sets out a long-term vision that is developed in consultation with the community.
The Plan and the goals within it are not something that can be achieved overnight, but through consultation in its development and adoption there is a clear and transparent approach.
Council is committed to continuing conversations with our community about this valued site into the future.
Read more: The exclusive report Anger as Council fouled out over controversial plans; Jeremy Lasek's opinion piece What would Ted think?; Wollongong City's Council's Beaton Park statement and Hawks CEO says 'there's a place for everyone' at Beaton Park
