Hands Oval Redevelopment

The City of Bunbury has received a development application from local company Perkins for the highly anticipated redevelopment at Hands Oval.

The project will see the demolition of the existing northern grandstand – the building currently home to the South West Football League – and the construction of an impressive new grandstand building.

The proposal includes a grandstand with 745 seats plus wheelchair spaces, coach, umpire, timekeeper and media rooms, changerooms for players and umpires, along with doctor and massage rooms.

It also includes a kiosk area, publicly accessible male, female and unisex toilets along with accessible toilets, offices, a boardroom, a sensory room and more.

Landscaping and car parking will also form part of the project.

The design and materials are inspired by Bunbury’s natural and water surroundings, such as the basalt rocks, Koombana Bay, the City’s beaches and the Mangroves boardwalk.

The upgrades are also designed to suit AFL Regional Preferred Facility Guidelines and to allow the facility to potentially host pre-season AFL and AFLW games.

The application will be determined by the Regional Development Assessment Panel, with public submissions open until close of business, Wednesday 9 November 2022.

See below to make a submission.

Tender awarded

The redevelopment of Hands Oval has reached another milestone with the City this week endorsing local company Perkins Builders as the preferred tenderer.

The $13.6 million project will create a sustainable, multi-purpose sports facility accommodating year-round sport, recreation and community activities.

It will enhance Hands Oval's reputation as the premier Australian football facility in the region.

Providing better male and female player change rooms, club facilities and an enhanced spectator experience.

The growing interest in the game by women and girls means there is a need to ensure that facilities provide a welcoming environment to support ongoing female participation.

The engagement of a local builder and subcontractors will ensure that the local community will receive the financial benefits from this significant infrastructure project.

Last year the City successfully secured $4.4 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

Funding of $5 million has already committed to the project by the State Government as well as a contribution from the South West Football League.

The design phase will soon get underway, with demolition and construction to begin following the 2022 SWFL season.

The redevelopment of Hands Oval is due for completion by the end of 2023, in time for the 2024 season.