New accessible changerooms for Barooga

By Rowan Frazer

Jul 10, 2024

External view of the new changerooms for women and girls at Barooga Recreation Reserve.

External view of the new female changerooms at Barooga Recreation Reserve.

Females can now play sport in greater comfort and with improved safety and convenience following the completion of new changerooms at Barooga.

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Two new accessible and family-friendly female changerooms have been added to the Barooga Recreational Reserve.

The $394,000 project was delivered by Berrigan Shire Council in partnership with the NSW Government.

The new changerooms have been built into the existing clubhouse near the reserve’s cricket, netball, and basketball courts.

The facility provides four new showers, four toilets and an accessible bathroom.

A parent-friendly changeroom has also been added, reducing barriers for mums who wish to participate in sport.

The upgraded facilities replace the old changerooms, which were dilapidated and located on the opposite side of Barooga Recreational Reserve.

Funding for the project included $154,000 from the NSW Office of Sport’s ‘Female Friendly Community Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades’ program, and $240,000 from Berrigan Shire Council.

Project approvals were originally received in February 2023.

Barooga Football Netball Club executive director Gabrielle Florance said the new changerooms are a “game changer for women”.

“These new facilities will encourage more women to play sport.

“The convenience of having our changerooms close to all the sporting equipment will make it easier and safer for our players to access all the amazing facilities here at Barooga Recreational Reserve.

“The parent-friendly changeroom is also really important, especially since we have a lot of mums who love to keep being active as they get a bit older.”

Berrigan Shire Council director corporate services Tahlia Fry said the need for new changerooms underscores the growing popularity of women’s sport in the region.

“Barooga Reserve is a sporting hub for the Murray region, so it’s important our facilities reflect this growing demand,” Ms Fry said.

“These new changerooms demonstrate our commitment to encouraging more women and girls to get out there and reap all the social, physical and emotional benefits of playing sport.”