Support for local sport continues to grow in Walgett, with new funding making local sporting facilities bigger and better. 

The $1 million announced this week will convert the town’s netball courts into a facility that will be able to host basketball, tennis and Futsal. 

With two netball court locations in the town, Walgett Netball Association President Tara Schiller is excited for the opportunity to host and combine more competitions. 

“It would be great to open up opportunities to have carnivals together,” Ms Schiller said, who is a part of the competition that has existed across town. 



Having been upgraded from dirt to asphalt and now seeing the expansion of two more courts, the location is becoming a contender to be the main netball courts in town. 

The funding will also provide a ‘green buffer zone’ that will provide privacy and noise reduction for neighbouring properties. 

Walgett Shire Council mayor Jane Keir said the funding will be well-received, just as the recent opening of the new PCYC was. 

“This will ensure Walgett has one of the best sporting precinct facilities in the north, and will complement the existing football, cricket and Little Athletics facilities at the complex,” Mrs Keir said. 

Ms Schiller said that the current netball courts aren’t currently suited to a long-term competition, usually used for annual events instead. 

“Water would just lie on those courts if it rained at all…you have no choice but to cancel games on the day,” she said. 

“If they can do something about that, it would be great”.

Minister for Western NSW Dugald Saunders said bringing more sports to Walgett is an opportunity for the town. 

“Sport is a major part of the psyche of communities in Western NSW and it is something that brings people together, so it makes sense to have facilities that enable wider participation across a range of activities,” Mr Saunders said.