Published 21 June 2022, updated 11 June 2024
Delivering a sustainable, multi-purpose sports facility to accommodate year-round sport, recreation and community activities, the Hands Oval redevelopment will enhance the facility's reputation as the premier Australian Football League destination in the region, providing improved male and female player change rooms, club facilities and an enhanced spectator experience.
Project timeline
- Tender awarded for project
- 17/10/2022
- Development application received
- 26/10/2022
- Construction expected to commence (approximate)
- 12/06/2023
- Demolition began
- 02/08/2023
- Upgrades to the ring-road, new parking, pathways, seating and drainage
- 18/01/2024
- Roof beams installation began
- 15/04/2024
- Expected completion (approximate)
- 01/09/2024
The City of Bunbury is pushing ahead with the highly anticipated redevelopment of Hands Oval.
To meet the needs of the changing building climate, and to include further works to complete the entire sporting precinct, Bunbury City Council supported increasing funding for this important community project at the April 26th Ordinary Council Meeting.
This was a crucial decision for the Council in addressing the building cost escalation being experienced across the construction industry, impacting many businesses and our general community. The decision means the facility will meet current AFL ‘Category 4’ standards, while also including parking and road upgrades, footpaths, a new entrance and ticket boxes.
It is no secret the existing facilities at Hands Oval are outdated, and this redevelopment will see construction of a new 751-seat, two-storey stadium to accommodate year-round sport, recreation and community activities catering for participation by both females and males, including people living with disability.
Undertaking these additional works will reduce future interruptions on our community while also ensuring a complete sporting precinct ready for exhibition matches and major events, and fortifying Bunbury as a sporting destination.
Project Update June 2024
A major milestone has been reached with all structural steel work now completed.
This will allow the installation of roofing to begin.
The fit out of the ground floor is progressing well and work has also started on sand blasting the tilt panel walls. The sand blasted pattern is an abstract reference to the Bunbury basalt boulders at Wyalup Rocky Point.
Project Update May 2024
The roof beams have started going up on Hands Oval’s new stadium as the multi-million-dollar redevelopment forges ahead.
The impressive stadium in South Bunbury is starting to take shape, while the City is also continuing works on the surrounding area including landscaping and paths.
Local Company Perkins Builders has been working hard to deliver this important redevelopment.
The City’s work has included a new asphalt carpark and concrete footpath, new seating and drainage infrastructure.
New turf has been laid in the popular spectator area to the south – perfect timing ahead of the South West Football League season kicking off.
SWFL games will get underway at the oval next weekend, while the new stadium is expected to be complete in time for the 2024 finals series.
Project Update January 2024
The next phase of works has begun at Hands Oval.
This will include upgrades to the ring-road, new parking, pathways, seating and drainage.
Due to these exciting and important works the site has now been fenced off and the Halsey Street entrance made inaccessible to the public.
Project Update August 2023
The 68-year-old infrastructure was recently turned to rubble to make way for the brand-new multi-purpose sports facilities which will include a new 751-seat, two storey stadium to accommodate year-round sport, recreation and community activities catering for participation by both females and males, including people living with disability.
Check out our drone footage above taken shortly after it was demolished.
Project Funding
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 South West Football League and $200,000 from the West Australian Football Commission.
The City is committed to seeking further grant opportunities while also including the additional funding in the draft 2023-24 Budget.
Construction has begun and completion in time for the 2024 South West Football League finals.