Blacktown Olympic Park's new athletics grandstand was officially opened on Saturday December 2, by the Minister for Western Sydney, The Honourable Diane Beamer and The Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Leo Kelly,OAM.

Designed by Ryder Design Inc and constructed by Hooker Cockram, the cost of the $4.5 million project was shared Blacktown City Council and the New South Wales Government, who through the Department of Sport and Recreation, contributed $2 million to the project.

Features of the grandstand include:

• 1200 capacity undercover seating
• Kiosk
• Administration Offices
• First Aid Room
• PA/Announcers room
• Toilets
• Change rooms
• Meeting Rooms
• 150 seated capacity function room with male and female toilets, kitchen and bar facilities
• Access Ramp

'The new grandstand enhances Blacktown Olympic Park's world class athletics track and provides shade, seating and shelter for all weather conditions for the thousands of officials, spectators, competitors and visitors that utilise the facility' said Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Leo Kelly.

'This grandstand together with the development of an AFL and Cricket Precinct, will see Blacktown Olympic Park further establish itself as the home of sporting prowess and development in Western Sydney.'

The Official Opening also saw 9 Little Athletics Centres from the Blacktown Local Government Area compete for the inaugural Blacktown City Relay Trophy. Over 200 participants competed in shot-put, long jump and relay events to earn points for their Centre's. Blacktown Little A's were announced the winner with President Derek Fineberg accepting the award on the clubs behalf.

What is Blacktown Olympic Park?

Blacktown Olympic Park was developed as a significant playing venue for Softball & Baseball and training venue for Athletics for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Since the Sydney 2000 Games the Park has gone on to host a variety of International, National, State, Regional and Local sporting and community events.

Home to Softball NSW, Baseball NSW and the International Goalkeepers Academy, Blacktown Olympic Park has over 400,000 visitors per year including over 500 sporting clubs and more than 80 schools.

The Park's reputation for world-class facilities and grounds has seen the park become the venue of choice for a number of international sports teams.

The Blacktown Olympic Park Athletics Precinct

The Blacktown Olympic Park Athletics Precinct boasts an all weather Mondo Synthetic track and facilities that can cater for the full range of track and field events including sprints, hurdles, relays, high jump, long jump/triple jump, javelin, discus, hammer, shot-put, pole vault and steeplechase.

A popular venue for primary and secondary school and zone athletics carnivals, the Blacktown Olympic Park Athletics Precinct has hosted a variety of major sporting events including the NSW Police & Emergency Services Games, the Westlink M7 Cities Marathon, the NSW Special Olympics State Carnival, Regional Little Athletics Carnivals and the annual Blacktown City Fun Run and Mayoral Walk.

Community events such as the Blacktown City Cancer Council Relay For Life, the Annual Blacktown City Family Sportsfest, AFL Auskick Super Clinics and the Blacktown City 'Super Sports' Clinics School Holiday Program have also used this great venue.

Last year the Athletics Precinct was utilised by 70,000 people at events such as these with this number expected to increase as the park continues to grow and develop.

Athletics Grandstand Design

The Athletics Grandstand is the result of innovative design and construction techniques employed by the architects and building contractors. The new grandstand was constructed over the top of the original amenities building, to reduce construction costs.

Another innovative design feature of the grandstand is a rainwater catchment tank that draws rainwater run off from the grandstand's uniquely designed roof. This water will be used to maintain the landscape and for the amenities.

The roof of the grandstand is unique and has resulted in an Australian Record. Roofing contractors BlueScope Lysaght bring in a mobile roll former to produce the roof sheets on site through a process know as 'rolling'. The 102.6 metre sheets are the longest continuos sheets in Australia to date.

The Blacktown Olympic Park Athletics Grandstand has also won a major building industry award.

The Construction team, Hooker Cockram has been recognised for their work on the project, winning the 2006 Master Builders Association Award for Site Safety.

---

Media Contact :
Rosalyn Nicholas - Media and Marketing Officer - Blacktown Olympic Park - 9839 6595