Sport
27 February, 2026
Hedges Oval set for major netball upgrade
After nearly three and a half years of anticipation, the Maryborough Giants’ netball court will finally receive a major facelift with the construction of a $450,000 state funded project commencing.
A new court surface, installation of lighting and courtside player shelters will be among the upgrades at Hedges Oval, bringing much delight to Maryborough Giants club president Adam Balzan.
“The way the court was, you were concerned there was going to be an injury every weekend, so that safety factor is huge,” he said.
“At the start of every year, we had to get it patched up. When it was raining, it was really slippery, and there were a couple of trees down the back that caused mold to grow on the court.
“Every Saturday, there was always a worry of the opposition saying we aren’t playing on this court.
“Knowing now we can turn up every Saturday and it’s a perfect court with a bit more seating area for players and spectators is going to be beneficial for everyone.”
Funding for the project dates back to a state election promise from Member for Ripon Martha Haylett, who pledged $1 million to local sporting grounds if Labor won the 2022 election.
Alongside the $450,000 to Hedges Oval’s netball upgrades, $550,000 was promised towards a female-friendly changerooms extension at Princes Park.
However, with uncertainty surrounding the home base of the newly founded Maryborough Giants, which merged Royal Park and Maryborough Rovers at the conclusion of the 2023 season, the project was placed on hold.
With initial site works now underway and tenders for court construction and lighting works advertised shortly, the Giants have entered a short-term dilemma.
With a current estimated completion time around the King’s Birthday Weekend, the Giants’ highly successful netball program, which had six of its seven teams make finals last season, will be forced to relocate from Hedges Oval for at least three home games at the start of 2026.
Despite the suboptimal circumstances, Balzan said he’s relieved to see the project finally up and running.
“There are so many facilities in Maryborough as it is and obviously, the money isn’t there for all the facilities,” he said.
“We were a bit worried it could’ve been allocated elsewhere, so it’s nice to finally see it coming through now.
“Ideally, it would’ve been done last year so we could start fresh this year, but a couple of games will be played away and we will work it out from there.”
Haylett echoed Balzan’s sentiment, saying she’s glad to deliver a brand new local netball facility following a prolonged wait.
“Some of the netballers said to me that they were really worried that it would just never happen and that they lost hope at that period of time, which is really sad for me to hear because I was always committed to this money,” she said.
“I know that there’s so much more to do for the Giants and for sport in general for this community, so I’m really pleased that this is now finally happening so that we can then get on with delivering more outcomes for community sport in Maryborough.
“It’s unfortunate to see that it’s clashing with their season. I didn’t want that to happen, but that’s just how the council contracts have gone.
“I’m just so glad that finally the netballers will be able to not run around on a slippery court with cracks and hazards everywhere.
“That is not what they deserve. They deserve world-class facilities and that’s what we are going to give them.”
The Central Goldfields Shire Council is working alongside the Maryborough Giants in their search for a short-term solution to their home court conundrum.
Discussions are ongoing as to whether the Giants will keep football home games at Hedges Oval while their netballers play elsewhere, or relocate entirely until construction is complete.
“We have tried to contact a few of the other clubs to try and swap games, but they can’t swap, so we are still not sure where we are going to be playing the netball side of things,” Balzan said.
“It might be we play football (at Hedges) and netball at the local (netball) complex, or we might even move to Carisbrook, Princes Park, or even Avoca or Talbot.
“It’s going to be a bit of a financial cost to us this year by splitting the netball and the football if we go down that path, but for the long-term benefits, we would rather have a new court.
“Rovers unfortunately had to do it for years where they played their football down at Jubilee and their netball elsewhere.
“It creates a divide in the club. Obviously, being a president and football manager, I’m going to be at the football, but my daughter is going to be at the netball, so I won’t see her play and there are a lot of families in the same boat.
“It does sound easy, just swapping venues, but it’s not that easy because then you have to clean, prepare and transport your whole equipment.”
Central Goldfields Shire Council mayor Ben Green said the council is keen to help the Giants find a resolution.
“You have a few factors in play here, you have the funding, the documentation to be shovel-ready and then you have time,” he said.
“While this fantastic court is supposed to be open in June, which is not ideal because it cuts into the season somewhat, I’ve had chats with Adam and Martha to see if we can come to some accommodation with other facilities.
“The first aspect of that, in my view, is you assess your parameters and then work with the decision makers.”