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The City of Whyalla has welcomed the Bennett Oval Master Plan as a vision for future development in the city.
The draft plan was presented at the most recent Council meeting on October 16 and approved unanimously by the councillors present.
The plans, with an estimated cost of $14m, outline how it would be possible to shore up the Bennett Park Oval precent as a multi-purpose facility able to accommodate many sports including the likes of football, cricket, netball, soccer, bowls and squash along with added community recreation areas.
The plan was finalised after consultation with sporting clubs and a community survey that attracted 136 responses.
The next process in the plan will be to investigate funding streams for construction. State and Federal Governments will be lobbied while grant opportunities to also be investigated.
“This is a fantastic plan for the future needs of Whyalla and something the council must do to make these things become a reality,” Council chief executive officer Chris Cowley said.
“Projects of this magnitude don’t happen overnight but they must be put in place in advance with the proper planning and foresight.
“This is a pro-active step from council to have this plan completed but it is important to understand it is just that, a plan, until we are able to source the required funding.
“We obviously have more pressing funding matters like the provision for our new jetty but be assured, now that this sporting precinct plan has been finalised it gives us the blueprint to go to the next step and investigate how we can pay for it without putting undue strain on rate payers.”
Some of the key recommendations included the provision of a new centralised facility (above) to replace the ageing grandstand. This would be a key catering facility for the precinct offering the provision of squash courts, a licensed bar and canteen for member participating sporting clubs and the general public.
Under the plan (below), the Southern Oval would remain the premier sporting arena and the home of football in Whyalla. With ample space at the precinct which is currently under-utilised, other features proposed would include an Oval Family Zone, Playspace Zone, touch football field, soccer field, school oval, train park, football clubrooms for existing tenants Central and Roopena, crickets nets, playground, kiosk, new carpark, toilets, synthetic lawn bowls rinks and netball courts.
The plan is available for viewing on council’s website at http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=938
