AFL Wimmera Mallee offers City to River feedback
Published on 18 July 2019
AFL Wimmera Mallee has provided its response to Horsham’s City to River Vision and urged the region’s football and netball clubs to provide constructive feedback on the proposed redevelopment of the City Oval precinct.
A Draft Masterplan is now open for public feedback.
See City to River Draft Masterplan
It proposes to upgrade City Oval to enable regional standard AFL, cricket matches and other non-sporting events to be hosted.
Although it remains the Wimmera’s premier sports facility, there has been no significant refurbishment at City Oval since the 1970s and upgrades are also required to meet women’s football and disability standards.
The redevelopment concept recommends that the oval be re-orientated so that it runs north-south, allowing for the extension of the playing field. This would require the closure of nearby Hocking Street.
A new multi-purpose pavilion and clubrooms (including fully accessible and female friendly facilities), covered spectator areas and a second netball court for training and matches is also part of the concept plan.
General Manager Bruce Petering said AFL Wimmera-Mallee supported the vision to transform Horsham’s riverfront into an elite sporting hub.
“The Draft Masterplan directly aligns with the strategic priorities of the Commission, which was for the development of a premier facility capable of hosting elite football,” Mr Petering said.
Mr Petering also endorsed the proposal to develop a shared outdoor sports precinct at the Horsham Showgrounds precinct, currently occupied by the Horsham Greyhounds.
As a preliminary concept, this facility would cater for athletics, soccer/rugby fields and a synthetic hockey pitch as well as cricket and football.
“We also support the development of an additional outdoor facility to meet the increasing demands of clubs requesting training venues within Horsham and the possible relocation of a club into Horsham into the future,” Mr Petering said.
“With many of our regional clubs having a large proportion of Horsham residents within their playing mix, training within Horsham is becoming a more popular and requested initiative from clubs.
“There is also the possibility of a club close to Horsham looking to relocate in the future. Our vision would be to have one grassed field and one multipurpose synthetic field that between the two would accommodate the requirements of football, soccer, athletics and hockey,” he said.
Along with AFL Wimmera Mallee, Horsham Rural City Council has engaged with all City Oval user groups including the Horsham Demons Football and Netball Club, Horsham City Pipe Band and Horsham Cricket Association.
The reaction has been enthusiastic, with the issues of parking and perimeter fencing on match days also among the discussion points.
All feedback will be captured and eventually form part of the final Masterplan which will be presented to Councillors, who will have the final say on whether it is adopted.