sport
Central Coast Expands Facilities Venues and Infrastructure Supporting Sport Locally
City funding targets upgrades at multiple sites to handle increased participation across football, rugby and cricket programs.
How we reported this
Central Coast City Council approved $8.5 million in capital works last week to modernise three aging sports sites ahead of the 2026-27 summer season.
The decision follows a sharp rise in local registrations for team sports, driven in part by global events including Argentina's extra-time win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals on July 11. Residents in the Beachside and Riverside neighbourhoods have reported longer wait times for field access at peak hours, prompting the council to accelerate infrastructure spending rather than delay until next budget cycle.
Targeted upgrades at named sites
Work will begin first at Central Coast Stadium on Ocean Boulevard in the Beachside district, where new floodlighting and an expanded grandstand will add 2,200 seats. A second project will resurface all eight pitches at the Inland Sports Park off Highway 1 in Riverside, replacing natural turf with hybrid surfaces designed to withstand heavier winter use. Both sites fall under the council's Sports Infrastructure Renewal Program, which also funds equipment storage sheds and accessible changing rooms.
Central Coast Sports Association, based at 22 Memorial Drive, will manage bookings for the upgraded facilities once completed. The association already runs junior development squads that feed into state pathways for football and rugby league.
Usage data and access details
A council audit released in May recorded a 37 percent increase in annual bookings across all local venues compared with 2024 figures. Peak-hour rates at Central Coast Stadium now sit at $185 per hour for senior teams, while junior groups pay $95. Construction timelines released by the council show lighting works at Ocean Boulevard finishing by November 15 and turf replacement at Inland Sports Park scheduled for completion before December 20.
Residents seeking field time should register through the Central Coast Sports Association portal before August 1 to secure slots in the upcoming season. Updated maps of available facilities will appear on the council website next month.