New stadium part of overall plan
Development details surrounding a proposed $20-million indoor sports stadium in Horsham are likely to hinge on how they fit into an overall plan for a city Cbd-river Precinct Project.
Horsham Rural City Council has confirmed that the proposed new centre, alongside Horsham Basketball Stadium and other community facilities, is sitting under a larger planning umbrella.
The direction means the council, which has been busy exploring development options, will defer new-stadium planning, pending outcomes of the Cbd-river Precinct Project.
Precinct planning, scheduled to be completed by March next year, involves exploring the infrastructure-development needs in areas connecting the Wimmera River in Horsham to the city’s primary shopping area.
The council heard at a meeting on Monday night that an independent facilitator had presented an updated stadium-development option, created in conjunction with a Project Control Group, in an attempt to address Horsham Amateur Basketball Association concerns.
The facilitator reported that the basketball association executive believed the options failed to address their issues and was unwilling discuss the concept further.
The site for the proposed stadium crosses from Crown land at the northern end of Horsham Showground through Mcbryde Street and incorporates Horsham Basketball Stadium.
Horsham Amateur Basketball Association, the primary tenant of the existing stadium, remains firmly opposed to the concept.
Council infrastructure director John Martin said in his report to the council that chief executive Sunil Bhalla’s plan for the development of precinct ‘vision’ provided an opportunity to review infrastructure plans for the to precinct, including the Wimmera Sports Stadium.
“The council is keen to develop an over-arching plan connecting the river through to the CBD as a whole,” he said.
“The proposed stadium site is in that area. Part of the vision will be an understanding what sporting facilities will be needed. A proposed stadium is part of that consideration.”
Much of the council debate on the stadium-development issue involved the basketball association’s lease arrangements surrounding Horsham Basketball Stadium.
Debate is set to continue at next month’s meeting. proposed