Questions, concerns and some false ru-mours were addressed at Cobar Shire Council’s Ward Oval Masterplan communi-ty consultation sessions last week.
The first session on Thursday night attracted a group of 22 Ward Oval users, which included six members of the Cobar Show Society along with representatives from the Cobar Netball Association, Cobar Junior Rugby League, Co-bar Senior Rugby League and the Copper City Men’s Shed.
The Friday morning session had nine users, with the Cobar Show Society once again repre-sented, along with the Buffalo Lodge as well as some interested townspeople.
Council received State Government funding in 2019 for a multipurpose community build-ing and to upgrade to the facilities at Ward Oval.
Then in 2020 it was announced that Council would receive a subsequent Federal Govern-ment grant for an Early Learning Precinct.
Council’s project coordinator Carly Hunter said they decided to combine the two develop-ments into one, the Cobar Community Hub project, which is valued at $6.8 million.
Council also received other grant funding to upgrade the stables at Ward Oval and the car-park.
“With the substantial improvements planned, Council believed it was important to undertake a review of the Masterplan of Ward Oval, tak-ing into consideration what we have funds for and what the future could look like,” Mrs Hunter said.
Architect Ashely Dunn, from Dunn and Hil-lam Architects, attended both sessions to walk participants through how they came up with the draft plan using feedback from user groups and the responses to 75 surveys conducted by Council.
Mr Dunn said they looked at the “typical use of the oval on a day to day basis”, its regular use, the popularity of different sports and how the area was set up and used each year for the Cobar Show.
Mr Dunn said all of the different structures
at Ward Oval were assessed on their condition
and a determination was made as to what
buildings and infrastructure needed to be upgraded,
what was worth keeping and what
needed to be demolished.
“The decision for the grandstand to go was
already made by Council before we came on
board,” Mr Dunn said.
He said they did however look at how it
could be made safe “without spending a lot of
money” however that proved too difficult.
As part of the proposed Masterplan, Mr
Dunn recommended keeping the existing old
show pavilion buildings, which had earlier
been earmarked for demolition.
“We want to work in with them, there’s a
bunch of history there,” he said.
Concerns from Ward Oval users were raised
about the proposed new storage sheds being
too far to move their equipment; some had
questions about there being an adequate number
of toilets; the need to have a line of sight
to the toilets for supervision purposes; and that
some buildings would be lost.
Council’s general manager Peter Vlatko,
who attended both meetings, stressed that
“nothing goes unless we’ve got something to
give you back”.
Mr Dunn also outlined the plans for the new
child care centre, which would be run by
Council and include out of school hours care.
“A lot of thought was given to the location
of the new child care centre so that it would
not negatively impact on the oval and the preschool.
All of the spaces have been designed
to accommodate different age groups and are
set up flexibly as demand changes.”
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