Spectators at this year’s South West Football League grand final days will be able to watch the top teams battle it out from the highly anticipated and impressive new Hands Oval grandstand.
The City, along with the South West Football League (SWFL) and Perkins Builders, is proud to announce the stadium, changerooms, and kiosk will be operational from the day of the women’s grand final this Sunday, 29 September.
Our community will be the first to test out the new facilities following the multi-million-dollar redevelopment, before the always popular men’s league grand finals on Sunday, 6 October.
The ground level – which also includes player and umpire facilities, the first aid room, and public toilets – will be fully operational for both days. While all of the 700-plus first-floor seating and SWFL offices will be available for use.
Contractors Perkins Builders has been working hard to ensure the stadium would be ready for the grand finals and we are excited for our community to see the results however, there will be some areas not fully complete and closed off to the public.
Temporary provisions have been put in place for both grand final days with the first-floor toilets, coaches, media, umpires, and timekeeper boxes not yet operational. The provisions will include additional portable toilets.
The City has also been putting the finishing touches on the surrounding areas of the oval, including roads, car bays, entrances, and landscaping, along with continuing maintenance of the playing oval – setting up for two epic grand final events.
The remaining works are expected to be completed by 20 December with an official opening and celebration to be held at the start of the 2025 SWFL season.
On behalf of SWFL and Perkins Builders, we thank our community for their patience and understanding, and for following any safety directions on both days.
The project is being funded through $6.8 million from the City, $4.4 million through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, $8 million from Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ WA Recovery Plan funding, $150,000 from SWFL and $200,000 from the West Australian Football Commission.
Comments to be attributed to Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel
We are thrilled the Hands Oval stadium will be open in time for the 2024 SWFL grand finals and that our community will be among the first to take advantage of this incredible new asset for Bunbury.
Congratulations and a huge thanks to Perkins and the SWFL for the hard work they have been doing to ensure the stadium could be as operational as possible for these important events. I know City staff have also been working hard on the surrounding areas, and they look fantastic.
The Hands Oval precinct is a community asset that will have amazing social and economic benefits into the future, and while I can’t wait to get down to this year’s SWFL grand finals to check it out, I also can’t wait for some exciting opportunities moving ahead.
Comments to be attributed to Bunbury MLA Don Punch
I am delighted that these works will be complete for the SWFL grand finals. I am sure the spectators will appreciate the extra seating.
The Cook Government is a proud supporter of community sporting facilities.
Comments to be attributed to Perkins Builders General Manager South West Derek Wilkes
Perkins Builders are proud to be delivering this important community asset alongside the SWFL and City of Bunbury. We are pleased that we can facilitate the partial occupancy of the stadium for the SWFL women’s and men’s grand final series.
The rejuvenated Hands Oval Precinct, with the sheer scale of the stadium now evident, has been designed to meet an AFL standard brief whilst having the flexibility to cater to many other sports alongside football and will serve the community for many years to come.
Perkins Builders would like to thank all our local suppliers and subcontractors who have provided the skillset to bring this prestigious local project to life.
Comments to be attributed to President SWFL Barry Tate
The South West Football League are thrilled to be a part of the new stadium at Hands Oval.
The SWFL would like to congratulate both the City of Bunbury and Perkins for the outstanding work to have the building and surrounds ready for our Grand Finals.
ENDS
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