Rivett Playing Grounds are located in the Canberra Inner West Region of Weston Creek.  

Each week over 1000 people use the playing fields and facilities to enjoy various sporting and leisure activities, either as an individual, family or organised sporting group.

During Winter, Canberra Royals Rugby Union and ACT JRU has over 600 members training there over the week.  On the weekends, up to 8 games a day can be played on the fields, with over 400 players, spectators and volunteers using the space.  The local cricket community also uses the nets during the week and fields on Sundays.

In the Summer months, the oval is a regular for cricket matches and training, with heavy use from teams in the Molonglo district who have no facilities in the area. Local residents frequently use the space to relax and unwind with their furry friends and the kids love to run around and enjoy the space. This outdoor space is a prized local asset and much loved by many residents. 

The only thing detracting from extra enjoyment of this space is the local amenities.

Firstly - the Toilets and Change Rooms.  These facilities stopped bringing joy to the Rivett playing grounds about 20 years ago.  They are cold, dark and dirty and have a threatening aura. The toilets and change rooms have lovely mid century design aspects but are in urgent need of a modern refit to make them more suitable for community requirements.  The groups that use them could benefit from from a combined canteen space/first aid space so they can fundraise for their communities and provide an expected basic level of safety and amenity to guests who come to the space. 

Secondly, the external spaces.  There are significant accessibility issues with the Rivett playing ground amenities.  The carpark requires urgent resurfacing as it floods regularly.  There is no ramp providing access to the site for those who have accessibility requirements.  This impacts many, many users at this site. We frequently have people with mobility challenges attend events as spectators and they have nowhere to sit.  The areas around the toilets and change rooms are steep inclines and require urgent landscaping.  In 2022, mothers with prams, grandparents and spectators in wheelchairs shouldn't have to watch sport from their cars because they can't get to a safe, accessible space. 

On behalf of all the community and residential users at Rivett playing grounds, we invite the ACT Government to provide an urgent upgrade to these facilities that includes:

• Toilet block upgrade - upgrade of toilets and changerooms
• Canteen Extension - could be a shipping container extension or something contemporary.
• Ramp and deck to the front of the Toilets, to provide accessible seating for those who need it.
• Carpark repairs
• Seating - so people can watch the sports and not sit on the cold ground during winter.  
• Repairs to grounds - currently, broken coppers logs allow vandals into the fields to do burnouts.  This impacts the field and creates potential for injuries among players.

This upgrade is an opportunity to create stronger community connections  and develop a sense of pride and safety among local users. Thank you for your support!