In February when Shoalhaven City Council decided to include a 50m swimming pool in its plans for Bomaderry’s revamped sporting precinct, it removed a proposed all-weather athletics track and vowed to find a different site.
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Athletes are still training on a substandard, and at some times, dangerous, grass track.
On Tuesday night following deputations from athletics club juniors, councillors agreed to push forward with stage two of the sporting precinct, including the athletics track at Bomaderry.
So the athletics track can fit beside the aquatic centre, the croquet club will be moved across the road, behind the indoor stadium.
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Shoalhaven athletics coach Jessie Boardman said most local juniors had grown accustomed to training on a grass track.
“The first time I went to regionals I was like, ‘What is this (synthetic) track?’” she said.
Miss Boardman told councillors there had been several injuries sustained due to the quality of the existing track – a fellow athlete had come off a hurdle, landed in a hole and broke their leg – and athletes would welcome the safety benefits of the new track.
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NSW Athletics and Little Athletics has identified the project as priority infrastructure for the sport in the state.
Council’s been encouraged to act quickly to attract government help.
