With a growing population, access to sporting fields continues to be a challenge for Wollongong's sporting community across various sporting codes from grassroots to the elite level.
Council's Sportsgrounds and Sporting Facilities Strategy 2023-2027 provides a strategic framework for the management and planning of sports and recreation in Wollongong to ensure our management of resources provides a diverse range of opportunities for sport and recreation across our LGA.
As football remains one of the city's most popular sports, we need to ensure equitable access for all levels of participation within a finite number of sports grounds and facilities. Currently, the Wollongong Wolves utilise a number of Council grounds and facilities for its junior and senior programs. We have continued to explore grant funding opportunities that prioritise sports field lighting projects to activate more grounds for nighttime training and increased access for junior and senior sporting clubs, including the Wolves.
Council has regularly held discussions with the Wolves regarding options for a home ground and/or permanent training space for its junior and senior teams. To date, those discussions have determined there are no Council-owned or managed grounds that can meet the Club's needs without displacing other clubs and organisations with existing leases or agreements.
We have previously helped facilitate collaborations and partnerships with other football and sporting clubs when it comes to access to training grounds and facilities and will continue to do so. We will also consider ways we can support the Club should opportunities arise at facilities or sports grounds not owned or managed by Council in future.
