Ongoing improvements to facilities at Sydney's Fairfield Showground

The redevelopment of the Fairfield Showground in western Sydney is moving forward with its new multipurpose amenities building now open and construction set to start on a new $10 million grandstand.

Fairfield City Council officially opened the Showground’s multipurpose amenities building last month, providing modern sporting facilities and a community hub for local events.

A whole range of community members including sportspeople, performers and Showground visitors now have access to high quality change rooms, training, meeting and food preparation areas in the new building.

The $5.1 million building was funded through the Western Sydney City Deal’s Western Parkland City Liveability Program, a joint commitment by the Fairfield Council, the NSW Government, and the Federal Government.

The latest phase in the $28 million redevelopment of the Showground, the amenities building is placed between the festival, cricket and AFL arena, the FIFA-accredited synthetic field and the elite turf field.

Construction at Fairfield Showground is set to continue until mid-way through 2021 with the provision of furniture for use across the site, a bike learning track, an off-leash dog park and improved field lighting.

Further development will include a new $10 million 1,000 seat grandstand to be built next to the existing Parklands grandstand, overlooking the newly created elite turf sports field.

To be built thanks to a further $7 million grant from the NSW Government and a $3 million investment from Fairfield City Council, it will include tiered seating, athlete change rooms and amenities, kitchen, bar and canteen facilities, ticket booth and social and VIP viewing areas.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said the new grandstand will provide a high-quality viewing experience for spectators, noting “this redevelopment is opening up this former harness racing track to the community for the first time in more than 60 years.

“We are keen to attract the very best in sporting talent to our city, as well as foster tomorrow’s champions. This new grandstand will be a crucial part of the Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence we are building here at the Showground.

“We want grassroots and elite sports teams, their families and fans to all enjoy the high-quality sports and spectator facilities.

“Fairfield City Council is focused on providing sporting and recreation facilities that encourage families and friends to come together and be active.”

Also under construction is an all-abilities playground at Deerbush Park, with walking/riding paths, splash pad, rope climbing course, flying fox, Liberty Swing, play equipment for children of all abilities, and accessible bathroom facilities.

A People’s Globe with multi-directional flagpole celebrating the City’s multicultural heritage is being built at the entrance to the Showground.

The multipurpose amenities building features a community space, kitchen/canteen, two large change rooms that can be divided into four, adjoining doctors’ rooms, restrooms, match official change rooms and bathrooms, gym/training room, office space, first aid facility and storage. The facility was built by Kane Constructions.

Images: Plans for the new grandstand at Fairfield Showgrounds being displayed with, from left, Fairfield City Councillor Dai Le, Deputy Mayor Paul Azzo, Member of the Legislative Council Scott Farlow, Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone, and Councillors Sera Yilmaz and Peter Grippaudo (top), the new amenities building (middle, courtesy of Kane Constructions) and the Master Plan for Fairfield Showgrounds (below) .