The new Gillen Oval Multi-Sport Precinct in Alice Springs has reached a major milestone, with a $14.3 million contract awarded to a Northern Territory contractor for the precinct's construction.
The new multipurpose training fields and community sporting amenities will give local clubs space to grow, attract new players, and boost participation.
The project is expected to create 43 local jobs and be completed in time for the summer sport season of 2027.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has brought sports-mad Central Australians another step closer to better sporting facilities, with a $14.3 million contract awarded to Asbuild (NT) Pty Ltd to develop the new Gillen Oval Multi-Sport Precinct.
The CLP Government has allocated $15 million to the precinct's design and construction, which will transform the site beside Centralian Middle School into a versatile sporting hub for Territorians to train, build their skills and get involved in local clubs.
Minister for People, Sport and Culture Jinson Charls said the CLP continued delivering on its commitment to improve sporting facilities in Central Australia during its year of growth, certainty and security.
"We are putting kids and communities first by investing in facilities that make it easier for people to get involved, stay active and enjoy the benefits of sport," Minister Charls said.
"This is more than just building a sporting facility. This is about building healthier communities, supporting stronger local clubs, and creating more opportunities to get involved in sport - from young players starting out to the coaches and volunteers who keep sports clubs running."
Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment and Member for Braitling Joshua Burgoyne said the project was a significant investment in Alice Springs' sporting future.
"Everyone knows Central Australians love their sport, and our local clubs play an important role in bringing people together," Minister Burgoyne said.
"Our Government is getting on with the job of delivering this new precinct. We are giving more young people the chance to pull on a jersey, join a team and make connections, while providing our clubs with more options for training and growing participation."
The contract award follows the release of the master plan [file:///C:/Users/ebora/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/INGW2Y66/dli.nt.gov.au/projects/gillen-oval-multi-sport-precinct] in December 2025, which features two adaptable fields and modern amenities to support a range of sporting codes.
Asbuild Owner Nadine Domine said the project will provide a fantastic sporting facility for a number of sports in Alice Springs.
"We are proud to have been selected to deliver a project that will create lasting opportunities for young people, sporting clubs and the broader Alice Springs community," she said.
Football Northern Territory Vice President Nicole Jervis said the local football community was proud to have supported the project from the start.
"Our football community first pitched the idea of turning the unused space at Centralian Middle School into more fields, so it's fantastic to see it become a reality," Ms Jervis said.
"Our junior competition is growing fast, and these facilities will give it the room it needs to keep thriving."
Central Australian Rugby Union President Jodie Summers looked forward to the benefits the new facilities would bring to rugby and the broader sporting community in Alice Springs.
"Additional rectangular fields have long been needed and advocated for by the Central Australian Rugby Union and other local sporting codes, so it is fantastic to see the CLP Government making this a reality," she said.
"These new facilities will provide much-needed space for sport to grow in Central Australia, creating more opportunities for local clubs to grow."
