Gymnastics and cricket call for space

A lack of adequate facilities for gymnastics and cricket in Port Hedland were raised at a recent community meeting held to discuss a future sporting blueprint for the town.

The public information night at Wanangkura Stadium was a chance for clubs to tell the Town of Port Hedland what they needed as its proposed master plan entered the detailed design stage

During the question and answer session with council officers, concerns were raised about the lack of developing gymnastics and a lack of facilities to run a competition.

Port Hedland Gymnastics member Kerrie Hodgkinson said she hoped they would be able to get a purpose-built facility to hold gymnastics.

“Short of that, we would be looking at a space to run a regional competition to bring people into the town and to have an air-conditioned facility,” she said.

“We’re privately renting a facility and it’s costly.

“That cost is passed on to our athletes and its not air-conditioned.” Mrs Hodgkinson said having a venue suitable to hold a competition would bring about 300 children from the region to the town.

The Port Hedland Cricket Association also flagged a lack facilities and asked what would be done in the immediate future.

PHCA president Aaron Hamilton said there was only one ground that could stage games.

“Our main goal is to promote juniors and female cricket, but with the lack of facilities at the moment, we can’t expand at all,” he said. “I’m not expecting them to look after us solely, but short term we need something now.”

ToPH Commissioner Fred Riebeling said it was vital for the Town to make facilities available for cricket.

“We’re actively looking at ways of developing the Hedland Senior High School oval for cricket and (that) is separate to the master plans,” he said.

Mr Riebelling said the Town would be looking at making the undercover netball courts of Wanangkura Stadium suitable for gymnastic competitions.