WHEN the Penrith Panthers venture over the Great Divide in coming years as part of the club’s five-year deal with Bathurst Regional Council, they may well find a new-look Carrington Park waiting for them.
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Once the premier footy venue in the Central West, the ageing ground has been trumped in recent years by the Glen Willows Sporting Complex at Mudgee and Dubbo’s Apex Oval.
And Orange plans to give its number one sporting venue at Wade Park a facelift.
It’s a fact not lost on mayor Gary Rush, who told the Western Advocate Carrington Park was a facility that is 30 years old and in need of a makeover.
“We need to have a ground that’s fitting of the NRL and other top class sporting events, like the A-League soccer,” Cr Rush said.
“[Deputy mayor] Ian North only raised this very same issue with me this week. We’ve asked for the change rooms to be given a spruce up with a coat of paint and I believe that’s been done.
“Council has also done some work on the grandstand itself as the side wall on the Howick Street end has had some subsidence and that had to be fixed. The kitchen had also reached its use-by date and that’s been addressed in recent times.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said five years is a long time an, with talk of that time frame being extended, it would be a natural progression to improve the facilities at Carrington Park to ensure that people enjoy the big game experience.
“But that’s not just here at Carrington Park. It’s any ground that’s wanting to attract the fans. You have to give them something they would expect to get them in the gates.
“Full credit to the Bathurst council for wanting to do more with the ground. The surface is good and the players are looking forward to the match against the Sharks.”
Cr Rush said both he and Cr North met with NRL chief executive officer David Smith towards the end of last year to discuss their expectations of a city like Bathurst when it comes to showcasing the wares of this sport.
“Looking to the future, we want to ensure Bathurst is the number one regional centre for big-time sport. Our Destinations Bathurst push needs this. Part of the challenge for us is to not only protect what we have, but to enhance it,” he said.
“Carrington Park is an important asset, but it’s 30 years old, so it needs to be reviewed as there are such high expectations for the ground.
“We have this five-year deal with the Panthers, but the club has made no secret of the fact it would like to see this become a long-term arrangement.
“There is also a vision from Penrith that they could even conduct some of their operations out of Bathurst and that would be great.”
Gates for the big match open at 10am with the first match kicking off at 10.40am. The NRL main game is set for a 3pm start.