From inspecting the crystal-clear waters of the refurbished Helensburgh Pool, to whacking a tennis ball over the net on the city’s newest state-of-the-art tennis courts and inspecting new soccer fields, last week was all about celebrating sporting milestones in the city.

Last Saturday I wrapped up the week on a high with the opening of the upgraded Lakelands Oval at Dapto, which is now the official home of the Illawarra Stingrays.

I’m really proud of the work we’ve done behind the scenes in recent years to support this high-performing club to secure a home pitch, and our collaboration with the NSW Government to deliver a modern, two-field sportsground with improved lighting, irrigation, fencing and new amenities.

It’s exciting to see these efforts come to fruition and to have our local, talented female football players enjoy a dedicated space that caters for their needs.

It’ll provide an area for them to train and grow and perhaps even become the next Michelle Heymann or Caitlin Foord.

Looking to sports that use a dramatically different-sized ball, I was honoured on Friday to be part of the opening of the Wollongong Regional Tennis Centre at Beaton Park.

The Centre is a Tier 2 facility meaning Wollongong now has the facilities to be able to host international, national and state-level events on its new courts.

The brand-new facility offers 15 courts in total – including eight ITF-sized cushioned acrylic courts and two community-sized cushioned acrylic courts – that are available for community play, coaching and school programs as well as casual court hire.

I didn’t miss my shot in the one-point slam that was held to mark the opening, and I’ve no doubt that our community will be excited to go for a social game, not to mention get behind any large-scale national or international events we will now have the opportunity to host!

This work is part of a long-term plan for the Beaton Park precinct, and I look forward to seeing more exciting outcomes in the future.

As we look at opportunities to welcome the next generation of sporting superstars to Beaton Park, I know local swimmers are rejoicing in Helensburgh following the reopening of the local pool.

After an extensive refurbishment the facility has been given a new 30-year lease on life and includes the suburb’s first Changing Places amenities.

Changing Places amenities offer essential features that cater for people with complex mobility needs and need additional support and equipment to use the bathroom safely and with dignity.

Ensuring we’re creating inclusive spaces for everyone across our local government area is a key focus of Council, and this new facility doesn’t just provide access to those using the pools – it’s available to those who need it outside of the facility’s opening hours.

This is an important milestone for the northern suburbs community and is a clear demonstration of Council’s ongoing investment in this area. We’ve also – excitingly – extended the pool’s swim season to 24 May this year to provide more time for a dip in the new pool.

As we celebrate these recent sporting milestones in the city, we’re also mindful that our passionate football-loving community welcomes the opportunity to come together and cheer on the professionals – including those with a connection to Wollongong.

That’s why we’ll be holding a free pop-up live site in Globe Lane on Sunday 1 March, Thursday 5 March and Sunday 8 March from 8pm for those keen to cheer on the CommBank Matildas during their AFB Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign. There’ll be two large screens set up so you can catch all the excitement with your friends and family while enjoying the offerings from local restaurants and soaking up the atmosphere. Why not come along and join in the fun?