Stadium push
Horsham College’s former ‘tech school oval’ in Baillie Street will qualify as a potential site for a new multi milliondollar indoor sporting stadium if a community lobby group has its way.
The group is pushing strongly for a Horsham West site at or near the college based on a strong belief the stadium project needs adjoining outdoor fields and to be part of a sporting precinct.
One version of the proposal involves building the new centre on the former oval, much of which has been used for college redevelopment, and expanding playing fields and community car parking across into nearby vacant farmland. The farmland is on the corner of Jenkinson Avenue and Remlaw Road, near Horsham’s 10-pin bowling centre.
The lobby group of prominent Horsham community and sporting advocates, including three former Horsham councillors, supports development of a new indoor stadium.
But it disagrees with the three sites shortlisted by a project control group.
Group spokeswoman Di Bell said it was critical Horsham investment into community sporting needs was based on future expansion opportunities.
She said Horsham also needed to seize a chance to avoid a ‘higgledy piggledy’ approach to asset development.
“We recognise there is a need for a multi-purpose sports stadium in Horsham,” she said.
“What we’re arguing is that the scope of the project, as it’s presented, is too narrow and should involve outdoor as well as indoor opportunities.
“This means the site selection we’ve been presented with is inappropriate. We’re only going to get one crack at getting it right.
“What we need is a stadium that is the centrepiece of a precinct that looks at the next 50 years and that has the largest shared use possible.
“That means involving playing fields and the college, and the only place where this works is in Horsham West.
“It is also important to stress that we have established this position to help, not hinder, the council in its efforts.”
Acommunity survey shortlisting three potential sites for a proposed Horsham indoor sports stadium has prompted a community lobby group to push for an alternative.
A project control group listed a former railway depot in Mill Street, a Mcbride Street site near Horsham Basketball Stadium and the river end of Horsham Showground as favoured locations.
Horsham Rural City Council invited the public to complete the survey and comment about a site for a multi-use stadium after accepting a project feasibility study last year.
The study revealed the stadium might cost between $8-million and $10-million.
The council project control group including council, consultant, Sport and Recreation Victoria and sport and community group representatives is working on the plans. The control group, in response to a strong community reaction, has extended a time frame to receive written submissions until Friday.
Lobby-group members want the council to consider a Horsham College site and have since met with representatives from the Horsham council, Horsham College and other organisations to discuss their thoughts.
Horsham College principal Rob Pyers said the college was committed to community partnerships and more than happy to be involved in any discussions.
“We have an excellent relationship with the Horsham council and are keen to work with them and the community to get the best outcome for all,” he said.
“If it is perceived by groups that Horsham College is a viable option for short or longterm, then the college is more than willing to discuss how that might eventuate.”
The former Horsham tech school oval open space on the college’s Baillie Street campus, while too small for use as a sporting oval, is large enough to accommodate a stadium and other developments.
An early concept involves expanding sporting grounds across a disused rail easement and Remlaw Road, which would close between Hillary Street and Jenkinson Avenue, and incorporate up to 15 hectares of land the council would need to buy for future development.
The road closure would correspond with the reopening of High Street across the rail easement.
Negotiations are also underway for the college’s Ian Maroske Hall to become the new home for Horsham Table Tennis Association, keen to shift from Maydale Pavilion at Horsham Showground.
The college already has a community partnership with the council for the use of its Dimboola Road community oval and plans for further sporting fields on the Baillie Street campus.
Mr Pyers said the college and neighbouring schools would use a community indoor sports centre daily, which would mean it would also be ‘committed to the financial sustainability of the building moving forward’.
“We would need to explore how it might work,” he said. “The underlying thing would be a commitment towards working with the council and understanding the importance of following good due process across the board.”
People can provide written submissions to Horsham Rural City Council at PO Box 511, Horsham, Victoria, 3402 or email to council@hrcc.vic.gov.au. Submission information is available from council offices.