Orange City Council’s sport and recreation committee chairman spoke about his ongoing frustration in failing to secure government funding support for Sir Jack Brabham Park.

The project, including an amenities building in the middle of the field with toilets, disabled toilets, change rooms, showers, storage and a playground, is dependent on $550,000 in NSW Stronger Country Communities funding to come to fruition.

Its fate will be announced in August, along with a lighting upgrade at Wade Park.

Cr Hamling said public feedback indicated basic comforts and lack of shelter were not up to scratch. 

“We’re crying out for funding,” he said. 

“Visitors are coming from Sydney and all over NSW and saying, ‘what’s going on here? What is this?’”

Cr Hamling said Bathurst and Dubbo seemed to be getting the lion’s share of sport funding. 

He said the sporting centre of excellence earmarked for the Northern Distributor Road was long-term. 

“We’ve got to get the facilities we’re using so they’re up to scratch because they’re getting left behind,” he said. 

Fellow councillor Tony Mileto, who is also president of the Orange and District Football Association, agreed saying Sir Jack Brabham Park could become a hub for the region.

“We want to encourage people to support the kids and we want to provide those facilities,” he said.