Hands could cater to AFL

Nationals WA candidates are promising a major overhaul of Hands Oval – putting the venue in contention to host an AFL match.

The party’s Bunbury candidate James Hayward will today announce the oval will be one of his “highest priorities” if elected at next year’s State Election.

Mr Hayward has estimated upgrades, including modern changerooms, corporate boxes, function rooms, bars, administration offices and a new gym, could cost $15 million and said he had already started rallying support to make the plans a reality.

Mr Hayward said the upgraded stadium, which could be similar to Mandurah’s Rushton Park, would be the first stage of his vision to deliver a Sports Excellence Precinct at Hands Oval, along with a comprehensive plan for the future of football in the South West.

He said football, including women’s football, would be the cornerstone of his plan.

“To establish a new sports stadium at Hands Oval to replace the outdated South West Football League and South Bunbury Football Club buildings is well overdue and what Bunbury and the South West deserves,” Mr Hayward said.

“This new stadium could provide a modern football facility for the South West, help attract WAFL and AFL games to the region and encourage more women to take up football.”

He said the conditions of the facility – built in the 1950s – were “nothing to be proud of” and had deterred interest from the WAFL and AFL in the past. It has been nearly six years since Hands Oval hosted an AFL pre-season match, when Fremantle took on the Western Bulldogs.

The oval has missed out for consecutive years largely because of the sub-standard changerooms.

Mr Hayward said stage two and three of his plan would include redeveloping Bunbury and Carey Park football clubs and working with the Bunbury City Council to develop land bordering Hands Oval.

“We’ve seen that when you maintain and fund a facility like the Bunbury Turf Club or Regional Entertainment Centre, major events will follow,” Mr Hayward said.

“These facilities bring visitors to the region, but they also enhance the lives of those living in Bunbury.”