FOOTBALL Wagga Wagga (FWW) will launch a plea to the public to help bankroll a proposed multi-million upgrade of Rawlings Park which will make it capable of hosting big ticket events.
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On Thursday next week (FWW) will launch a fundraising and sponsorship program where it hopes to raise $500,000 in two years by offering $500 double passes for the first year of the planned stadium's operation to local businesses or individuals.
A fully-lighted $4 million artificial turf stadium, the first of its kind in regional NSW featuring a grandstand and a capacity of 3-5000 would be the jewel in the crown of a massive $10 million redevelopment which would also include:
- Converting fields five and six into synthetic surfaces;
- New 200-lux lighting for fields two three and four, which will also be stripped and resurfaced with cooch grass to cater for soccer and cricket;
- Increasing parking and amenities.
Wagga City Council have previously promised to commit staff and resources to develop a detailed blueprint for the project, which WWF badly needs to address a shortfall in available fields.
They have already set aside $700,000 which FWW hopes will increase to $4 million, while another $5.5 million would be required from the state government.
FWW board member Tim Barter is adamant the precinct would have the ability to bid for W-League matches and A-League pre-season fixtures, as well as state and national titles.
The FWW board will meet with Football NSW representatives next week to seek assurances the facility would be utilised sufficiently.
"We hope that they will give us a guarantee once we can get this complex up and running that they'll be a part of it and pushing these titles towards us," Barter said.
"They need another hub to help take the load off the areas being used at the moment, namely Port Macquarie.
"We've sat down with the local cricket association and shown them our plans, and they're supportive of it."
Barter said all five local clubs would be involved in pitching the membership drive to locals in order to make their redevelopment dream a reality.
"The reason why we're raising funds is so we can be a financial partner in building and creating a master plan for Rawlings, which we're calling the regional football complex because it's for the whole region," he said.
"The individuals and business who buy memberships will get a paver at the entrance to the stadium with their name on it.
"For five years we're been trying to raise $1.5-2 million to get just one synthetic field build and it got nowhere.
"State governments tend to look more favourably at a complex that can be used by a whole district, not just an extra field."
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