The project will include renewal of the grandstand which needs significant maintenance to prolong its life.

Port Pirie Regional Council will seek an engineer’s report on the structure to set a repair timetable.

The canteen, which lacks running water, will be improved.

The work will take place under a $252,000 federal stimulus package grant with other projects listed in the rural areas.

Councillors had to fight for the allocation to the oval when some elected members, led by Crystal Brook’s Cr Neville Wilson, wanted a community bus to be bought and based at Crystal Brook instead of the upgrade.

Cr Wilson described the oval project as “unacceptable” and even went as far as to say the money should be spent on footpaths in Crystal Brook.

Later, Cr Dino Gadaleta backed the spending, saying the money would be spent on an ageing grandstand and it needed to be done now.

The meeting was told that volunteers at the football canteen were doing it tough.

Mayor Brenton Vanstone said the council was two years’ behind in spending on the oval.

“There was no running water in the canteen. They walk over to a tap to get water,” he said,

In other spending, $30,000 will be allocated towards a skate park at Crystal Brook and $50,000 will go towards introducing that town’s sport and recreation plan.