Goulburn’s new hockey turf is open for competition

The first competition games have been held on the new water based synthetic fields at the Goulburn Regional Hockey Complex, following an official opening on Saturday morning.

Along with the two synthetic fields, the new complex contains national championship quality lighting and a new expanded car park that now comes straight off Finlay Road. Council will award a tender for the amenities upgrade in the coming months, which will complete the project.

A water-based field is considered one of the best for the game, as it provides a smoother surface for players and reduces the risk of injury.

Goulburn District Hockey Association president Sharney Fleming said Goulburn had been a proud hockey town for many years and the new field was designed to revive that reputation.

“When our other field was damaged by birds, which was about six or seven years ago, we’d been playing on one field, so we’re hoping now with the new water-based field and getting new facilities around there, we can increase our numbers again in hockey,” she said.

“You lose numbers when you don’t have the right facility for people to play on and it caused a struggle for us with one turf to get all teams training and everything onto that one turf.”

Mayor Peter Walker notes “the new blue turf can’t be missed, and provides an excellent fast surface for our players. Combined with the lighting and soon to be upgraded amenities buildings we will now be able to attract and host state and potentially even national hockey championship events.”

NSW Minister for Local Government and Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman said the facilities upgrade to championship event standard benefits local players and will attracts visitors to the region.

“Goulburn has a proud history when it comes to professional and social hockey participation and the upgrade secures the future of hockey in Goulburn and surrounds.”

Following the official opening and speeches, Goulburn Hockey Association held a come and try day, before Goulburn’s three Canberra Capital League teams played their opening round matches.

The NSW Government provided $3.872 million towards this project, Council contributed just over $3 million to purchase the facility and Goulburn District Hockey Association also contributed $200,000.

Mayor Peter Walker, Minister Wendy Tuckerman and Sharney Fleming President of Goulburn District Hockey officially opened the field. Also in attendance were NSW Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor and Kate Pulbrook of Hockey NSW along with a number of committee members and hockey representatives from around the region.

Image courtesy Goulburn Mulwaree Council