New amenities building for Mark Leece Sporting Complex

Monday, 2 May 2022

Penrith City Council has completed the construction of a new amenities building at Mark Leece Sporting Complex in St Clair.

The facility is fully accessible and includes two change rooms for female and male users, a referee’s room, canteen, first aid room, toilets, improved storage and verandah.

The $1.7 million project was proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund in association with Council. It forms part of Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy to provide the infrastructure the community needs to live an active and healthy lifestyle.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the new building will be a huge benefit to those who use the complex for sport and recreation.

“The previous building was out of date with inadequate storage facilities, accessibility issues and changing rooms which didn’t cater well for female users. We are very pleased to now be able to provide a facility that is fit for purpose.”

“We are also appreciative of the support we’ve received from the State Government and the hard work of Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies which made this possible,” Cr Hitchen said.

The new amenities building will service 675 St Clair United Soccer Club members and 151 St Clair Netball Club players as well as local schools.

Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies welcomed this major boost for the St Clair community.

“The sporting clubs that rely on the amenities block at Mark Leece Oval knew first-hand how desperately a new block was needed. Thanks to the Minister for Sport, we were able to secure funding for a complete knockdown and rebuild.”

“I am thrilled to stand here today to open this wonderful amenities building. This is a game-changer for the St Clair United Soccer Club and St Clair Netball Club, encouraging more people to participate in sport,” Mrs Davies said.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government is committed to creating places and spaces that enable communities to be healthy and active.

“The NSW Government is investing in new and existing facilities to improve the quality and quantity of sports infrastructure across Greater Sydney.”

“It’s important that communities have fit-for-purpose facilities to enable participation in sport at all levels, encouraging more people to be healthy, happy and active,” Mr Ayres said.

The upgrades complement Council's $500,000 investment in recent years at the complex in floodlighting, field reconstruction, irrigation and the conversion of an unused reserve area to create a training facility.

Find out more about Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy projects at: penrith.city/sportandrecreationstrategy

Photo caption: Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen and Tanya Davies MP celebrate the opening of the new amenities building at Mark Leece Oval in St Clair with representatives and players from St Clair United Soccer Club and St Clair Netball Club.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 2 May 2022.