Part 1: New grandstand scores with players and fans

Former Bundaberg backrower Ivan Groves can still remember running onto Salter Oval as a 12-year old schoolboy in 1981.

The rugby league veteran played with Across the Waves until the end of last season and has many fond memories of his old home ground.

Among the highlights was the completion of the new $1.8 million grandstand, dressing sheds and other first-class facilities officially opened on 28 August 2005.

New grandstand builds on Bundaberg's proud sporting tradition.

"There have been three sets of changing rooms at Salter Oval and I've pulled on a jersey in all of them, including the original wooden sheds," Ivan said.

"When I first started playing, the rooms were dark and damp and freezing cold in winter.  You would come in after a game and be lucky to get a lukewarm shower because there wasn't enough hot water to go around.

"The old wooden sheds were replaced by concrete change rooms in the 1980s and they were really good by regional standards, but the new grandstand is sensational.  It includes five air-conditioned change rooms for players and two for officials.

"There's also plenty of hot water for showers, so players can soothe their muscles and get rid of the grime from a game before heading home.

"The tunnel from the change rooms is quite long, so heading out to the ground makes you feel like you're about to do battle in a much larger sporting arena.

Panoramic view of the main arena from high in the stand.

"It's also great to see more people at the games, because capacity crowds add to the atmosphere and bring out the best in players.  The height of the stands makes the action seem much closer, so the view of the games is spectacular."

Salter Oval was established in 1932 and has four playing fields which support rugby league, cricket and school sports carnivals at local, regional and interstate levels.

The new grandstand was built by Bundaberg City Council with the support of the Queensland Government, which contributed $621,180 to the project through the Major Facilities Program. The balance of $1,199,354 was funded by council.

Mayor Kay McDuff said that in addition to the seven new change rooms for players and sports officials, the grandstand included seating for 619 spectators, a media room, administration and training rooms, reception and storage areas, a kitchenette and amenities, including two unisex toilets for people with disabilities.

Cr McDuff said the new facilities had already provided a major boost to local rugby league and cricket, with an estimated increase of more than 15 percent in crowd numbers during the corresponding periods for 2004 and 2005.

Copybook tackle. (Photo courtesy of Bundaberg News-Mail.)

"Salter Oval supports dozens of teams and hundreds of senior players with local and regional fixtures for cricket in summer and football in winter," she said.

"It also hosts thousands of junior players each year in the state under-15 cricket championship and inter-school sports carnivals.

"The new grandstand adds to the excitement and is a major drawcard for all their families, friends and fans."

Cr McDuff described Salter Oval as a wonderful community asset and said it was used virtually every day of the year.

"During the week, our local primary and secondary schools use it for their competition days and junior players train there as well," she said.

Developing potential. (Photo courtesy of Bundaberg News-Mail.)

"Saturdays and Sundays are heavily booked for the senior games.

"As a designated reserve, Salter Oval is also open to the general public from 6am to 6pm every day, so it gets plenty of community use as well."

Cr McDuff said Bundaberg had produced many sporting greats, including former Kangaroo captain Mal Meninga and Australian wicketkeeper Don Tallon.

"The best way to continue producing elite athletes is to identify and develop their potential at the grassroots level," she said.

"Some of the younger players competing here today may well go on to represent their state or country and some of the children watching them from the grandstand could also be inspired to follow their lead.

"Without regional sporting venues like Salter Oval to hone and showcase their talent, they would be denied that opportunity."

Cr McDuff said the new grandstand and facilities would help attract higher-level competitions to Bundaberg.

"In the 1980s, we saw Alan Border score a century against New Zealand at Salter Oval and in the 1990s, star players like Matthew Hayden, Martin Love and Jimmy Maher took on the West Indies and Zimbabwe," she said.

"We have also hosted several national rugby league matches, including a double-header a few years back between the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys and the Balmain Tigers and Newcastle Knights.

"That program attracted a record crowd of more than 14,000 spectators with the old grandstand and facilities, so we would expect even better in the future."

Read more about how Bundaberg City Council gave one of Wide Bay's premier sporting facilities a new lease on life.

Part 1: New grandstand scores with players and fans

Former Bundaberg backrower Ivan Groves can still remember running onto Salter Oval as a 12-year old schoolboy in 1981.

The rugby league veteran played with Across the Waves until the end of last season and has many fond memories of his old home ground.

Among the highlights was the completion of the new $1.8 million grandstand, dressing sheds and other first-class facilities officially opened on 28 August 2005.

New grandstand builds on Bundaberg's proud sporting tradition.

"There have been three sets of changing rooms at Salter Oval and I've pulled on a jersey in all of them, including the original wooden sheds," Ivan said.

"When I first started playing, the rooms were dark and damp and freezing cold in winter.  You would come in after a game and be lucky to get a lukewarm shower because there wasn't enough hot water to go around.

"The old wooden sheds were replaced by concrete change rooms in the 1980s and they were really good by regional standards, but the new grandstand is sensational.  It includes five air-conditioned change rooms for players and two for officials.

"There's also plenty of hot water for showers, so players can soothe their muscles and get rid of the grime from a game before heading home.

"The tunnel from the change rooms is quite long, so heading out to the ground makes you feel like you're about to do battle in a much larger sporting arena.

Panoramic view of the main arena from high in the stand.

"It's also great to see more people at the games, because capacity crowds add to the atmosphere and bring out the best in players.  The height of the stands makes the action seem much closer, so the view of the games is spectacular."

Salter Oval was established in 1932 and has four playing fields which support rugby league, cricket and school sports carnivals at local, regional and interstate levels.

The new grandstand was built by Bundaberg City Council with the support of the Queensland Government, which contributed $621,180 to the project through the Major Facilities Program. The balance of $1,199,354 was funded by council.

Mayor Kay McDuff said that in addition to the seven new change rooms for players and sports officials, the grandstand included seating for 619 spectators, a media room, administration and training rooms, reception and storage areas, a kitchenette and amenities, including two unisex toilets for people with disabilities.

Cr McDuff said the new facilities had already provided a major boost to local rugby league and cricket, with an estimated increase of more than 15 percent in crowd numbers during the corresponding periods for 2004 and 2005.

Copybook tackle. (Photo courtesy of Bundaberg News-Mail.)

"Salter Oval supports dozens of teams and hundreds of senior players with local and regional fixtures for cricket in summer and football in winter," she said.

"It also hosts thousands of junior players each year in the state under-15 cricket championship and inter-school sports carnivals.

"The new grandstand adds to the excitement and is a major drawcard for all their families, friends and fans."

Cr McDuff described Salter Oval as a wonderful community asset and said it was used virtually every day of the year.

"During the week, our local primary and secondary schools use it for their competition days and junior players train there as well," she said.

Developing potential. (Photo courtesy of Bundaberg News-Mail.)

"Saturdays and Sundays are heavily booked for the senior games.

"As a designated reserve, Salter Oval is also open to the general public from 6am to 6pm every day, so it gets plenty of community use as well."

Cr McDuff said Bundaberg had produced many sporting greats, including former Kangaroo captain Mal Meninga and Australian wicketkeeper Don Tallon.

"The best way to continue producing elite athletes is to identify and develop their potential at the grassroots level," she said.

"Some of the younger players competing here today may well go on to represent their state or country and some of the children watching them from the grandstand could also be inspired to follow their lead.

"Without regional sporting venues like Salter Oval to hone and showcase their talent, they would be denied that opportunity."

Cr McDuff said the new grandstand and facilities would help attract higher-level competitions to Bundaberg.

"In the 1980s, we saw Alan Border score a century against New Zealand at Salter Oval and in the 1990s, star players like Matthew Hayden, Martin Love and Jimmy Maher took on the West Indies and Zimbabwe," she said.

"We have also hosted several national rugby league matches, including a double-header a few years back between the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys and the Balmain Tigers and Newcastle Knights.

"That program attracted a record crowd of more than 14,000 spectators with the old grandstand and facilities, so we would expect even better in the future."

Read more about how Bundaberg City Council gave one of Wide Bay's premier sporting facilities a new lease on life.