Construction set to start on Penrith’s first all-weather athletics facility

Thursday, 26 August 2021

Plans to overhaul a local sports oval and deliver the City’s first athletics precinct, featuring a top-quality synthetic surface, are well on track.

Works are expected to start in September on the Harold Corr Athletics Track Upgrade, a $5 million project which will see the existing field in Herbert St, Cambridge Park, become an improved training facility for the region’s sporting clubs and offer a prime location for athletics events.

To be jointly funded by Penrith City Council and the NSW and Australian Governments, the project will be rolled out in stages. Initial works will deliver a synthetic athletics track and field facility, floodlighting and a formalised carpark.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the delivery of this synthetic track - the first of its kind in the Penrith Local Government Area - sets a new benchmark for the City’s infrastructure and is sure to encourage greater sporting participation and active recreation opportunities for residents.

“This fantastic and exciting project is yet another example of all levels of government working together for the benefit of the community,” Cr McKeown said.

“At a local level, Council recognises the need for improved facilities while striving to increase participation across all sporting codes in the City – from grassroots to elite opportunities.

“The Harold Corr Athletics Track Upgrade will enhance training for various sports clubs and boost the amenity for spectators, but it will also provide secondary benefits such as helping to tackle childhood obesity and encouraging residents to get out of their homes and take a walk.

“I am eager to see this well-utilised sports field transformed to become the first of its kind in our great City.”

The Harold Corr Athletics Track Upgrade is one of six projects to be funded under the 2019 NSW Government Election Commitments.

Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres MP, said the turning of the first sod at Harold Corr Athletics Track delivered on his promise to provide upgraded sporting infrastructure for Penrith residents.

“I understand how much the Penrith community loves sport and providing upgraded facilities which benefit the entire Penrith sporting community is one of my key priorities,” Mr Ayres said.

“Penrith Athletics Club members can look forward to an international standard athletics track in their own back yard.

“Our region has needed a synthetic running track and it’s great to see this project finally beginning with the support of the NSW Government.”

Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the NSW Government was proud to support these projects which will allow more Western Sydney residents to be healthy and active.

“As we have recently witnessed in the Olympics, sport and active recreation offer many benefits, including teaching teamwork and leadership, encouraging friendship and building resilience and self-confidence,” Mrs Ward said.

“The NSW Government is proud to deliver funding for major upgrades to Penrith sporting facilities which will help people of all ages and abilities in Western Sydney to be healthy and active.”

The NSW Government has committed $2 million to the project, for the delivery of the synthetic athletics track.

The Australian Government’s contribution of $303,341 through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program will go towards funding the new car park. 

Council’s contributions towards the precinct will be in excess of $2.8 million.

The sports oval will be closed to the public during works, which are slated for completion in September 2022.

The Harold Corr Athletics Track Upgrade forms part of Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy, which details our City’s ongoing needs in line with the vision for improved community spaces.

To find out more and see the detailed design, visit penrith.city/sports-upgrades

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Thursday, 26 August 2021.