ISS REDevelopment PROJECT

The Illawarra Sports Stadium has been approved for major redevelopment, including; three (3) additional fully compliant, air conditioned courts, a gymnasium, administration centre, seating for 2,100 spectators and additional facilities for the community. The lack of courts, (no new internal courts have been constructed for Illawarra community’s use in the last 30 years) has resulted in the ISS not being adequately able to cater to the communities' needs, since 2015.
 

The major users, Illawarra District Netball Association, UBL Basketball and Illawarra Basketball Association, are at their capacity for team entries and training, and have been asking management for more courts for to expand operations due to ever increasing demand. ISS management’s attempts to proceed with this project has been met with a lack or priority from government until NOW!

With your help we have a tremendous opportunity to influence authorities to provide the necessary funding required. Please see below a petition to show your support for the Illawarra community, the current users of the stadium and their members. This development is imperative, if the ISS is to continue to provide services to the community for their health and wellbeing.

KEY FACTS:

• The major users have demonstrated that more than 1,200 residents per week from the Illawarra are not able to gain access to programs at the Stadium due to lack of courts space.
• Interest in Illawarra District Netball is on the rise and their Association is keen to have additional facilities to develop participation and a representative pathway.
• UBL is the largest senior men’s competition in the Illawarra and has the plans to provide opportunities for women and children to participate in skills and structured competition, when more courts become available.
• Illawarra Basketball Association is also expanding and requires more courts for training their representative teams and skill development education.
• Illawarra Table Tennis Association has long been without a home and is keen to develop their sport and their membership.
• The extension will assist WCC better address the growing needs of the 25,000 residents moving into the housing developments south-west of Wollongong City.
• The development will also replace the aging Val Curren Centre and create an estimated 500 full time equivalent jobs it the Illawarra.
• The additional courts with substantial spectator seating, will cater for elite women’s netball, elite women’s and men’s basketball, plus larger events for which there are no economic facilities currently in the Illawarra.
• Many other potential users have been refused access to book courts due to nothing being available or clashing times.
• Members of many sport &recreation groups have written to WCC complaining the ISS is denying them access to programs, not understanding the current courts are insufficient to meet demand.
• In Australia 25% of children are overweight or obese. One in 10 are obese. The long-term issues for our health system will be dramatic.
• On weekends the Illawarra Sports Stadium frequently have 4,000 users, with a monthly community participation of more than 26,923.
• Each week we know that 1.2m females play Netball, with many associations lacking appropriate facilities and in 2022 many weekends have been washed out. The need for compliant indoor courts needs to be recognised.
• Many State and National Championships have been hosted at The Illawarra Sports Stadium and most recently, the School Sport Australia 12 years & Under Netball Championships.
• ISS currently hosts many events and groups that represent the community’s' interests in a wide variety of areas, some of these groups include: LIfeline Bookfair, Robotics Competition, Careers Expos, Reptile shows, Dance Groups, Lego show, Sports & representative training, School and various tournaments, and many other groups that use ISS to promote knowledge and health for the community.
• Statistically for every $1 spent on community sport there is a health benefit of $5 (a reduction in public health costs).

YOU CAN HELP! Please complete the petition below and tell your friends about this project.

Thank you,

ISS Management