The main objective of the Port Pirie Sports Precinct Redevelopment was to create a vibrant sporting hub in the centre of Port Pirie that aims to:

• Provide significantly upgraded facilities to replace the current ageing infrastructure
• Provide significantly upgraded facilities to replace ageing infrastructure;
• Reduce ongoing costs to council, the community and individual clubs/associations;
• Attract major events to the region as part of council’s event tourism strategy;
• Assist to rejuvenate the CBD by bringing more sports to the centre of town;
• Accommodate multiple sports such as football, cricket, soccer and baseball at the Memorial Oval Precinct (incorporating Pirie West Oval) with new lighting, change rooms, canteen and toilet facilities and a function centre with viewing facilities;
• Transform the Swimming Pool Precinct into an Aquatic & Leisure Centre with a new amenities block, an indoor learn to swim pool and children’s pool together with water play equipment. The Centre also can accommodate gymnastics, squash, and potentially others in a multi-purpose facility.

As with many regional communities, sport plays a major role in the way of life of local residents of Port Pirie. The City has a strong focus on the traditional sports of Australian Rules Football, soccer, cricket, netball, basketball and gymnastics as well as a large range of other recreation and competitive sporting pursuits.

A sports facility review was conducted in 2013 to consider the potential of rationalizing grassed playing surfaces in Port Pirie to alleviate the ongoing burden of rising water costs on both clubs and council. The review also noted the importance of adopting a consolidated approach to planning and sharing community resources to alleviate the burden on volunteers and clubs.

The review also considered the options for the redevelopment of Memorial and Pirie West Ovals together with the swimming pool and identified the clubs and organisations that indicated that they would consider being involved in any future redevelopment of the precinct.

Council was successful in obtaining $5 million in funding from the Australian Government via its National Stronger Regions Fund and a further $5 million from the State Government via a 2014 State election commitment, which together with council’s own funding enabled the $25.16 million Port Pirie Regional Sports Precinct to proceed.

The project commenced in January 2017 and was completed by the end of 2018, ready to host the 2019 Regional Swimming Championships and 2019 State Masters Games and the Australian Rules Football preseason Showdown in March 2019 and SANFL Showdown in July 2019.

The Port Pirie Sports Precinct features the expanded Pirie West Oval; realignment of Memorial Oval; new lighting to both ovals; a redeveloped grandstand; new change rooms, canteen and toilets together with a function centre and viewing facilities.

The Aquatic & Leisure Centre includes a swimming pool precinct, new amenities block and accommodate gymnastics, squash and potentially others in a multi-purpose sports facility.

Mayor Leon Stephens said “we are very grateful for the funding and the community will see the benefits of the funding for many years to come.”

The Port Pirie Spots Precinct was officially opened by Governor Hieu Van Le on 2^nd March 2019.

This information was provided by Belinda Jackson, Communications Executive, Port Pirie Regional Council

The LGFA currently provide long term loan funds and flexible convertible cash advance debenture facilities to the Port Pirie Regional Council which enable the Council to create intergenerational equity for their community.