Football Wagga’s tireless campaign for a all-weather stadium paid off last month after Wagga City Council formally approved the Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy, which includes Rawlings Park developments as a major project.

Football Wagga strategy and planning officer Erwin Budde was unsuccessful in requesting funds to upgrade Gissing Oval and Rawlings Park through the ClubGrants scheme in 2015 and 2016 respectively but believes this formal approval puts the footballing community in good stead for a major breakthrough.

“We’ve put an enormous amount of effort into this project and the feedback has been very positive so far,” Budde said.

“We’ve gone through all the standard environmental planning approval processes and it’s been fairly straightforward.

“I have to say that council have been extremely supportive throughout this process.”

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Budde said the project, which incorporates a 300-seat grandstand, two-storey amenities clubhouse, fencing, parking and lighting, was currently valued at more than $3.9 million.

“This is a significant project that’s not just for soccer fans and players,” he said.

“If it goes ahead, it would be the first of its kind in regional NSW and would have the capacity to host everything from Mini Roos right up to international games.

“This project would benefit not only local teams, but also the regional community as a whole.”

Council city strategy manager Ben Creighton said council had been supporting the project for years.

“In December 2016, council resolved to provide in principal support to enable Football Wagga to submit funding applications for a synthetic football field,” he said.

Budde is now seeking $3 million funding from the NSW Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund and hopes to gather the support of local MP Daryl Maguire. 

“We’re really hoping he can get on board and support us,” he said.