24 July 2010

Ovals open

| johnboy
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Andrew Barr has taken a moment out from hobnobbing with Ashton Kutcher at AFL games to announce that Phillip Oval has been re-opened after seven years and the new Harrison District Playing Fields are now ready for action:

“Phillip Oval’s elite sporting complex now boasts a $2.3 million pavilion as well as tiered seating on the viewing banks. The sporting community will also benefit from the new drought tolerant resistant couch grass, a turf cricket pitch and new AFL goal posts.

“As the new headquarters for Gungahlin United Football Club, Harrison District Playing Fields will also be used for the first time by senior and junior footballers this weekend. Juniors play on Saturday 24 July 2010 from 12pm to 5 pm and games in the state league competition will be played on Sunday 25 July 2010 from 10 am to 1 pm.

“There are six football fields at Harrison with two of the fields equipped with training lights for night time use. The new fields are fully irrigated using a system of tanks and pumps which allow water harvested from the roof the new pavilion to be directed into the tanks to supplement mains water supply.

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Growling Ferret3:10 pm 26 Jul 10

Funky

There is now enclosed soccer, AFL and League/Union ovals in Woden. Nobody will have to share, meaning the ovals stay in much better condition and don’t get completely chewed up like Jamison, ANU South or any of the other shared grounds.

Phillip Oval (nee Football Park) has been used in the past by many codes of football, so why only accomodate AFL? Why not also install League/Union posts as well and advertise the fact. Or is it only to be used by one code from now on?

the redeveloped oval is not where royals play. that place is still a festering pit of disease, thankfully over the road from the hospital

The Phillip Oval is surely the old Football Park next to the pitch and putt, which has indeed been out of action for years. It’s good that there’s some new sports grounds, but how about some resources to maintain them? There’s not enough enclosed high level grounds to go around, and the district playing fields are in an appalling state most of the year. One enclosed football ground in Tuggeranong is not enough for 4 winter codes, hence only two use it, and trying to keep everyone pleased with these multi purpose grounds ends up pleasing no one. Hopefully the same mistakes aren’t made in the newer suburbs. The Woden example should be a guide, a separate Rugby, AFL and football enclosed ground and they are all in reasonable condition and well used.

Growling Ferret6:58 pm 25 Jul 10

The oval that has been reopened is the oval formerly known as Football Park, Phillip, behind the swimming pool and opposite the Hellenic Club.

Why the ACT Government changed the name I’ll never know as all its done is cause confusion and bitterness from the rugger buggers and leaguies.

The home ground for Royals and Rams is untouched as far as I know.

WonderfulWorld5:15 pm 25 Jul 10

Actually its the Hellenic club and Canberra College, across from Tradies, next to Belluci’s (yum)

WonderfulWorld5:14 pm 25 Jul 10

dvaey said :

Trunking symbols said :

Could someone clear up some confusion which has arisen with this item? Which Phillip Oval has been redeveloped by Barr? Are we talking about Phillip Oval next to Woden CIT (the rugby oval) or the former AFL Park opposite Southern Cross Gym and the pool (where the grandstand burned down)? Outta Control and Growling Ferret have muddied the water somewhat with their posts.

From a quick look at recent aerial imagery, it appears the oval between the southern cross club and the Canberra college.

Correct, it has been used as a carpark most recently. AFL was always played at this one and I believe the southside are deserving of this ground, and for the AFL purposes.
Glad to have it up and running again.

Trunking symbols said :

Could someone clear up some confusion which has arisen with this item? Which Phillip Oval has been redeveloped by Barr? Are we talking about Phillip Oval next to Woden CIT (the rugby oval) or the former AFL Park opposite Southern Cross Gym and the pool (where the grandstand burned down)? Outta Control and Growling Ferret have muddied the water somewhat with their posts.

From a quick look at recent aerial imagery, it appears the oval between the southern cross club and the Canberra college.

Outta Control said :

tl;dr

The last match at Manuka Oval was a sellout btw. Get your facts straight. Rugby isn’t going to fade away overnight you insecure fool and there are plenty of oval for everyone.

Trunking symbols10:25 am 25 Jul 10

Could someone clear up some confusion which has arisen with this item? Which Phillip Oval has been redeveloped by Barr? Are we talking about Phillip Oval next to Woden CIT (the rugby oval) or the former AFL Park opposite Southern Cross Gym and the pool (where the grandstand burned down)? Outta Control and Growling Ferret have muddied the water somewhat with their posts.

Growling Ferret7:45 am 25 Jul 10

To quote myself from 4 years ago(?)

‘When people comment its disused, the ACT Grounds staff declared the oval off limits. The ground would still be used by Canberra Senior and District clubs, but the ground surrounds (fencing and changerooms) were deemed as unsafe 3 years ago, and noone wanted to take responsibility to fix it up.

If the joint had been kept in some sort of condition, the grandstand would never have been burned down. When AFL Canberra sold/gave the ground back to the ACT Government, a commitment to keep it as a decent facility was made. If turning all the surrounds into another pokie palace is the way to make it happen, then make it happen…’

Instead of a pokie palace, some additional parking has been created, and the ground moved 50m east.
No new pokie palace, and a very impressive facility

Outta Control2:04 am 25 Jul 10

As a rugby man I’m very disappointed that Barr has installed AFL goalposts at Phillip Oval. Phillip Oval has gained a reputation as the rugby and rugby league ground on the southside and it is very popular with the rugby fraternity. The AFL already have Manuka Oval and whenever games are shown on WIN News the rows of empty seats are very conspicuous. Why do they need yet another oval? And JB, Phillip Oval has not been “reopened after seven years”, it has been in continuous use every winter over this and the past years for rugby and rugby league games involving Royals and the Rams, as well as junior rugby carnivals. Barr should have instead redeveloped the oval as an exclusive rugby ground called Rugby Park Canberra.

Why was it allowed to fall into desuetude in the first place?

Growling Ferret6:23 pm 24 Jul 10

Footy Park is sensational now. Great surface and arguably the best facilities in Canberra for changerooms and canteen (exluding Manuka and Bruce).

Big thumbs up to the ACT Government on this one

So, will football games still only be played at the two major ovals (Bruce and Manuaka) or will games be spread around the city now?

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