Locals are smiling as work is well underway in the central west township of Trangie on a sporting precinct refurbishment that will cost almost a million dollars.  

The Narromine Shire Council is busy overhauling the local netball, basketball and tennis courts and installing upgrades at the nearby aquatic centre as part of its overall master plan for the Trangie sporting precinct. Works are expected to be completed at the pool in September and at the courts in October 2023. 

Funded by a network of government grants and fundraising by local sporting clubs, the upgrades to sporting facilities are a welcome boost to the town of just over 1,000 residents, located an hour north-west of Dubbo. 

“The projects were funded largely by the NSW State Government with support from Narromine Shire Council and an active Trangie sporting community who have planned and lobbied for some time for these improvements,” a Council spokesperson said. 

“The work at the pool is being led by the Trangie Swimming Club who have worked with Council throughout the development. The current works combined [across projects] are budgeted at just under $900,000.” 

Refurbishment works at the playing courts part of the precinct on Harris Road include new lighting, fencing, grandstand seating, and the resurfacing of four tennis courts, two netball courts and a basketball/multipurpose court. At the aquatic centre, a pool blanket and heat pumps have been installed and solar panels to help offset increases in electricity costs will be installed in August. Additional shade and replacement pool ladders are also planned. 

Seeing the work progress at the tennis courts is exciting for club members, said the President of the Trangie Tennis Club, Maddie Bretag. 

PHOTO: Work is well advanced on the tennis court refurbishment at Trangie. 

“For the last couple of years our club has been applying for grants to get these new courts. We had one synthetic court and three clay courts, which are really hard to manage,” she said, indicating the club was thrilled to hear about the $705,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund that has made their dream a reality. 

“It will be good to have all-synthetic courts now,” Ms Bretag said.  

The refurbishment has impacted use of the club facilities during construction, disrupting coaching and competition, and the removal of fencing also made it difficult to play. However, the short-term pain is worth the long-term gain, Ms Bretag said. 

“It’s been a bit hard to play [without fencing] when the balls go everywhere! Part of the scope of works is a whole new fence around the outside,” Ms Bretag said. 

PHOTO: One of the clay courts and the basketball court yet to have their makeover. 

Despite these inconveniences, there has been a high degree of patience among tennis club members who can’t wait to use the new courts, she said. The club plans to hold a special celebration once the work is completed. 

“We’re all pretty excited. Hopefully [the new courts] will encourage a few new people to come and try tennis.” 

Narromine Shire Mayor, Cr Craig Davies, who is also a resident of Trangie along with Cr Adine Hoey, is thrilled that the town is receiving the much-anticipated sporting infrastructure upgrade.   

“These projects are fantastic outcomes for Trangie and are the result of much lobbying by locals, and specifically Ash Miles, and hard work by council staff. To have such an active and motivated local group of volunteers working to make a better community for all is the best kind of development possible, which benefits all the community and not just sectional interests,” Cr Davies said.