Dalton Park upgrade

TOWRADGI'S North Dalton Park is set to become one of the region's premier sporting facilities with a $200,000 upgrade.

North Dalton Park Regional Sports Centre will be upgraded to enhance the playing surface, as well as night game lighting, which will allow elite matches to be played on the ground.

Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell said the funding for the AFL and cricket oval would enable bigger events to be played locally.

Mr Campbell said Wollongong City Council and NSW/ACT AFL were also contributing to the cost of the upgrades, which will benefit AFL and cricket, as well as touch football.

"Major projects like this require significant long-term input from sporting clubs and the local community, so it is encouraging to see that work should start in August," Mr Campbell said.

""It is also pleasing to see different sporting codes and their governing bodies working together to enable these projects to come to fruition."

AFL (NSW/ACT) General Manager Dale Holmes said the development of North Dalton Park is the third major strategic initiative to develop AFL in the Illawarra region. Recently, the Wollongong Lions were prompted to the Premier Division of the Sydney AFL and two AFL Community Camps with the Sydney Swans were held in Wollongong.

"Developing North Dalton Park to a level of quality that will potentially accommodate Sydney Swans pre-season matches will help the AFL further develop its footprint in the Illawarra region," Mr Holmes said.