The Kiama LGA is to benefit from more than half of the $3.7 million awarded to the South Coast for sports ground improvement, to repair and rebuild damaged facilities that were impacted by the February or June floods.

Kiama Council has been allocated $993,600 for drainage and irrigation work on the Gerry Emery Reserve/Athol Noble Oval and $691,120 for the same work at Gainsborough Oval. The funding also covers the replacement of the current cricket pitch with new synthetic pitch at both locations.

Secretary of the Kiama and District Sports Association, John Dawson, appreciates the work being done to get the oval back to what it should be.

“The drainage there has not been maintained over many years and it has resulted in it getting clogged up. With all the rain last year, it meant the ground was flooded for over a year and hasn’t been used for nearly two years now,” John says.

“It will be great to have that sort of work done at Gainsborough. The Gerringong people will also appreciate the work being done there, as their grounds been impacted by the floods as well.”

Kiama Tennis Club has also been allocated $220,068 to repair and improve the Blowhole Point Tennis Court. The work includes better drainage, retaining walls, resurfacing the two courts and adding court lighting.

The funding comes from The Essential Community Sport Assets Program, jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, as part of the broader Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP).

“The grants awarded will not only improve people's experience playing and watching sport but also make damaged infrastructure more resilient in the future,” said the Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, on making the announcement.