Wagga Wagga City Council and local sporting groups gathered today (9 April 2026) to mark the official opening of the new and upgraded amenities facilities at Gissing Oval in Turvey Park, featuring female friendly change rooms.
The $1.1-million project to construct the new amenities facilities and refurbish the existing change rooms at the oval was funded through the NSW Government's Female Friendly Community Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Grant Program ($500,000), in partnership with Council.
The grant program aims to provide safer and more inclusive sporting spaces for women and girls by supporting the delivery of upgraded bathrooms, changerooms, and lighting.
The official opening ceremony was attended by Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr MP on behalf of the NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper, Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout, and local female football players and club representatives.
Dr McGirr described the completion of the upgrade project as a landmark moment for women's football in Wagga Wagga.
"I'm delighted to see the development of these new and improved facilities here at Gissing Oval, through the funding support from the State Government and Wagga Wagga City Council," Dr McGirr said.
"The upgrade delivers important benefits for Wagga Wagga's female football players, creating a safe space for the girls and women who play the game, along with officials, supporters, and other sporting groups who use this popular sporting facility."
The new amenities block, which is adjacent to the existing facility, features a conference room incorporating kitchenette facilities, two female-friendly change rooms and showers, and a dedicated referee room.
Additional safety measures have also been installed, including CCTV and a swipe card-controlled access system.
The project also involved the refurbishment of the two existing change rooms at Gissing Oval turning them into female friendly change rooms, and the refurbishment of the existing toilets.
Female Development Officer for Football Wagga & Wagga City Wanderers Stacey Collins said the club is excited to celebrate the opening of new and refurbished amenities buildings at Gissing Oval.
"The project has delivered brand-new female-friendly change facilities and improved accessibility, significantly increasing our capacity to host matches and training," Stacey said.
"We are also thrilled to debut a new multi-function space, which will serve as a hub for the football community to focus on player and coach education and development.
"We thank all the trade professionals who have been involved in the project, and we gratefully acknowledge the support of Wagga Wagga City Council and the NSW Government.
"This project was made possible through the Female Friendly Community Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Grant Program, providing the vital funding needed to bring this vision to life for our club."
Wagga Wagga's mayor described the renewal of the existing amenities and construction of additional change facilities important and much need improvements for Gissing Oval.
"There has been a growth in women's sport here in the Wagga Wagga area and right across the country and Councils like ours need to ensure we are providing the facilities to meet that growth," Cr Tout said.
"This project increases Gissing Oval's capacity to host competitions and training in a safe space that supports social wellbeing and inclusion, and helps athletes, officials, spectators, and the broader community feel welcome and supported."
The amenities upgrade project is part of a broader initiative by Council to upgrade multiple aged facilities to create safer spaces for women in sports, as identified in the Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040.
