Bill Jacob Athletics Centre demolition commences making way for high quality athletics facility in Wagga Wagga

Demolition works commence today at Bill Jacob Athletics Centre, making way for a premium quality athletics facility at Wagga Wagga’s Jubilee Park.

Jubilee Park, a large 30ha multi sporting complex located in the suburb of Lloyd, the council of Wagga Wagga, is the home of Touch football, Hockey, Athletics and Baseball in Wagga. The site contains 16 touch fields, two synthetic hockey fields, two baseball fields and an athletics track.

Updates to the Bill Jacob Athletics Centre. will play a key role in attracting future top-tier events to the region.

When completed, the upgraded Athletics Centre will include a 400-metre all-weather synthetic track, and a wide selection of specialty athletics and warmup facilities related to long jump, shotput, steeplechase, javelin, discus throw and high jump events.

Upon completion of the track-work portion of construction, Track and Field lighting for the upgraded athletics centre will be installed by specialist contractors.

Contractors are anticipated to begin the demolition phase of the project on Monday 26th February 2024, weather permitting.

Contract Project Manager Matt Griffin noted that this phase is expected to be complete within a month.

“During the demolition phase, contractors will remove all above-ground infrastructure to provide a blank slate for the new facility's construction,” Griffin said.

“Heavy machinery will remove and dispose of the fencing, concrete, and all previous athletics event infrastructure, ensuring where possible that all appropriate materials are recycled.

“Once demolition is complete, the design of the new facility will be finalised, and construction will commence.”

According to Council’s Manager of Recreation & Economic Development, Ben Creighton, updates to the facility will play a key role in attracting future top-tier events to the region.

Creighton shared “The benefits of the upgrade to the Bill Jacob Athletics Centre include increased economic and tourism activity from event attendees and providing a high-quality year-round athletics facility for the Wagga Wagga community.

“The Athletics Centre will be closed during construction; however, Council has prepared an interim location for local schools and organisations to host athletics events.

“We have worked closely with local and state athletic groups to prepare a temporary athletics facility located at Wiradjuri Reserve.”

“The interim site will include an athletics track, throwing circles and cages, long and triple jump pits, and line markings for javelin, along with additional portable toilets and temporary storage facilities for club equipment.”

The upgrade of the Bill Jacob Athletics Centre is scheduled for completion in late 2024.

This project is funded through the NSW Government, Wagga Wagga City Council and CLUBGrants.

For more information on the project, visit the project page.