Traffic changes and road closures will affect parts of Port Macquarie during IRONMAN on Sunday 18 October. The Settlement Point Ferry will be closed from 8am Sunday until 1am Monday 19 October.
Wayne Richards Park is one of the region's premier sporting precincts, supporting a range of local and regional sporting activities. The Stage 3 and 4 expansion project is focused on planning for the future development of additional sporting facilities on land that will become available following the relocation of the Council Depot on Koala Street.
The proposed expansion will provide for a regional-level athletics facility and an additional junior sized AFL field, helping to meet growing demand for sporting infrastructure across the Port Macquarie-Hastings region.
Council has identified a shortage of sporting facilities across the region due to increasing participation levels and ongoing population growth. The expansion of Wayne Richards Park will help address these needs by providing additional opportunities for training, competition and regional sporting events.
The project aligns with Council's Recreation and Open Action Plan and long-term vision for improving sport and recreation infrastructure across the local government area.
Since recommencing in 2024, the project has included extensive site investigations, environmental assessments and concept design development. Key investigations identified several site constraints, including significant level differences across the site, areas of uncontrolled fill, environmental considerations associated with the Koala Plan of Management, and existing infrastructure requirements. These constraints have informed the development of the preferred design.
The Detailed Concept Design has now been completed and establishes the proposed layout, functionality and scope of the future facilities. The design provides a foundation for refined cost estimates and future funding applications
Proposed Facilities:
Council has undertaken engagement with key stakeholders throughout the project. This has included consultation with Athletics NSW, Little Athletics NSW, local athletics clubs and other sporting stakeholders to ensure the proposed facility meets the requirements of a regional-level athletics venue and reflects local community needs.
Stakeholder feedback has helped shape the facility layout, functionality and long-term vision for the site
Complete
Future works
Future works* Construction of the future sporting facilities remains dependent on the relocation of the existing Council Depot and securing funding for the next stage of the project