Canberra-based firm CK Architecture has been awarded the job of designing the long-awaited Cooma Sports Hub.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council’s recreational planner Alannah Dickeson said CK Architecture was selected after a local government open tendering process. It was highly contested, with 21 submissions but ultimately council considered prior experience on a range of sporting infrastructure projects to be the deciding factor.
The state-of-the-art sporting hub will feature a three-court indoor sport facility at Monaro High School and synthetic athletics track and field facilities at Snowy Oval. The $15 million sporting facility will cater for a range of sports including basketball, athletics, Australian rules football and cricket.
Member for Monaro John Barilaro, who announced the news, said the appointment of CK Architecture is a key milestone in the delivery of this important local sporting facility.
“Cooma Sports Hub will be a game-changer for the Snowy Monaro region, ensuring families and kids in the local region can play a variety of sporting codes all year round,” he said.
Southern Cats Football Club president Anthony Sexton said it is fantastic to see such a massive investment in local sports in the region.
He also said the moving of the athletics facility from the footy oval would mean better facilities for everyone.
“Taking the athletics lines off the field means a safer game for all of the players and we are excited to get out on the field,” said Mr Sexton.
He added that building the right facilities helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children, creates future sporting stars and brings communities together.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor Peter Beer is also pleased with this latest development.
“Due to our climate, indoor sports facilities are a necessity,” he said. “For the community, this new sports hub will provide recreational facilities and enable our local sporting organisations greater opportunities to host regional level carnivals and events.”
In 2020, locals were asked to have their say on the scope of the project and to specify which sports and activities they wanted Cooma Sports Hub to cater for.