SWAN HILL residents are being encouraged to help shape the future direction of a key community asset, following the release of a Draft Masterplan for the town’s Showgrounds and sport and recreation precinct.
Encompassing the Swan Hill Showgrounds and Alan Garden Reserve, the precinct includes two ovals, eight netball courts, cricket nets, clubroom facilities, Swan Hill Leisure Centre, boxing gym, grandstand with seating, CFA training and competition facility, public toilets and agricultural buildings utilised by the Swan Hill Agricultural and Pastoral Society.
Considering the many active user groups of the precinct, and at times their competing demands, the draft masterplan aims to meet the evolving needs of the community, while catering to the growing and developing expectations of the Swan Hill region.
Once finalised, it’s envisaged the masterplan will guide development within the precinct for the next 10 to 20 years.
It considers the future development of a sports hub, a youth services hub and expansion of the existing leisure and aquatic facilities in a proposed staged delivery model, with a series of prioritised major and minor projects, expected to cost more than $20 million.
“The plan has aspirational and innovative elements with outcomes that account for the needs of the wider community while ensuring diversity and inclusiveness,” Swan Hill Rural City Council said.
The plan has been a work in progress and has taken more than two years to get to this stage, following the formation of an advisory committee in 2022, and community survey undertaken last year, which attracted more than 400 responses.
Swan Hill Rural City Council director of Development and Planning Michelle Grainger said survey respondents raised several pertinent issues, and while these had been identified, some concerns were still being addressed.
They included the lack of an identified site for the relocation of the outdoor Swan Hill pool, the possibility of a children’s services hub, the construction of new netball courts, the relocation of CFA sports infrastructure, the closure of Pritchard Street and car parking.
“From council’s point of view, we think we’ve worked with the user groups to come up with a draft master plan that provides for the future of the reserve,” Ms Grainger said.
Following council’s endorsement of the draft masterplan, stakeholders, ratepayers and the wider community are encouraged to have their say during a six-week public consultation phase.
“We are very eager to hear the community’s thoughts on the masterplan, which has been developed based on feedback from stakeholders and the wider community,” Mayor Stuart King said, emphasising the Swan Hill Showgrounds, Sport and Recreation Precinct was an asset within the municipality.
“Over 400 submissions were received during consultation last year, so we understand there is significant community interest in this public space in the heart of Swan Hill,” Cr King said.
He urged everyone to take the time to review the masterplan and provide feedback.
“We are at a crucial stage in the consultation process, and it is essential for both user groups and community members to offer their feedback. There may be ideas that have not yet been considered, and we welcome this input.”
Community consultation will close on April 2.
See also: Draft Masterplan proposed works
