Tanunda Recreation Park wins Facility of the Year award

The spectacular redevelopment of Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa Valley has been recognised as the 2024 winner of SANFL’s Football Facility of the Year award.

This whole-of-precinct redevelopment project has delivered a premier sport and recreation venue in the Barossa as part of The Barossa Council’s “Big Project”.

The Tanunda Football Club and Council partnered throughout the planning, design, construction and activation phases of the project and together they have delivered a shared vision for community football and sports tourism in the region.

As a council-led project, the successful outcome also can be attributed to the strong collaboration with the whole Tanunda community, ensuring the project met the needs of the local community, providing a modern, inclusive, and thriving facility.

Tanunda Football Club President Kym Underwood said the club was thrilled with the recognition.

“It’s a wonderful facility for the community and, in particular, a great venue for our football club,” Underwood said.

“There’s been a whole lot of hard work, dedication and commitment from a lot of people over many, many years to make this happen.

“It’s a fabulous result. I’ve always said this is a project that provides something for generations to come, not just the present day, and I’m super excited about what we’ve all been able to achieve.”

Undertaken in a number of stages and completed in March 2024, the precinct now boasts quality infrastructure including a second junior oval, change room facilities appropriate for local, regional and elite competition, LED sports lighting to the main oval, a welcoming and well-appointed bar and 300-seat clubroom for exceptional match day and event experiences.

The redevelopment has contributed to Tanunda Recreation Park becoming a high quality and vital Barossa sporting and recreation destination.

The Tanunda Football Club “Magpies” has benefitted from an enhanced football experience for players, officials, and spectators while also positively impacting other Tanunda based sporting codes and the broader community through fostering the growth of sport and recreation in the area.

The club now manages and maintains the facility, also ensuring that the facilities are accessible and well-utilised for public functions and events.

The venue recently hosted the 2024 Barossa, Light and Gawler Football and Netball grand finals with a strong crowd attendance and the association’s football board describing the event as one of the best ever.

The upgraded facilities have already attracted more visitors and local, regional and state events to the region, boosting local businesses and contributing to the economic growth of The Barossa Council region.

The Barossa Council Mayor, Bim Lange, congratulated the Tanunda Football Club and volunteers on the well-deserved award that celebrates community partnerships and shared aspirations.

“These facilities are more than just infrastructure – they help build stronger clubs, provide social connection for people of all ages, and support community wellbeing,” Mayor Lange said.

“Now more than ever, we want to keep people actively involved in sports and recreation.”

SANFL’s Community Venue Development Lead Rebecca Tappert said the Facility of the Year award recognises best practice in community football facility development across the state.

“The award aims to promote and celebrate well positioned, welcoming, accessible, fit-for-purpose football facilities that support our growing game’s strategic priorities and we congratulation Tanunda Football Club and The Barossa Council for delivering this redevelopment for their region,” she said.