Goulburn's North Park to score improvements under master plan

There's also two cricket wickets used by junior and senior players, school groups and other sporting teams frequently use the venue and there's a children's playground at the Chantry Street facility.

A working party, in conjunction with the council, has mapped out a $7.2 million improvement program for North Park, given its growing use and potential.

Councillors endorsed the plan at their most recent meeting. However, it's dependent on funding.

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A clubhouse similar to that recently built at Seiffert Oval is a major component and is estimated to cost $1.5 million. It's proposed for the Allison Street aspect and is a medium term project in the next six to 10 years. But the program also sets out more immediate works over the next two years, including amenties, storage sheds and transfer of one cricket wicket to Eastgrove fields.

Deputy Mayor Peter Walker said the focus was an extension of the council's Recreational Needs Strategy, which identified areas of growth.

"North Park has been tied up with junior rugby league for a long time (since the 1940s), cricket uses it, as do cricket and the Taralga Rugby Union boys," he said.

"But we're at a stage where it needs some attention. The surface area is good and the growth of junior rugby league is very good, so we need to provide more facilities...Some of them are a bit antiquated."

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Likewise, amenities needed to cater for the growing number of females playing rugby league.

The council's business manager of community facilities, Rob Hughes, said the project also aimed to increase spectator comfort and attract regional events, which in turn helped the economy.

The crown reserve, managed by the council, includes a 20,000 square metre playing surface.

The master plan proposes a lighting upgrade, enabling the competition to run later in the evening, a storage shed, replacement of public amenities at the northern end, landscaping, two emergency gates and signage. The latter five aspects, plus relocation of one cricket pitch to Eastgrove, are planned for the next two years at an estimated $317,000 cost.

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Cr Walker said Goulburn and District Junior Rugby League had contributed financially for the storage shed. The club had initially approached the council about North Park's improvement, leading to the working party's formation. Councillors commended the club for its "vision" and voted to give it "priority allocation" due to the commitment. Other sports can, however, apply for use.

Goulburn District Cricket Association was consulted and a representative sat on the working party. Mr Hughes said wickets at Eastgrove would need to be addressed in future budgets and included in the Recreational Needs Strategy.

A further $750,000 in improvements are flagged over a two to five year-timeframe. These comprise tiered seating, irrigation upgrade and perimeter fencing. Over six to 10 years, a lighting upgrade, clubhouse with a kiosk, change rooms and viewing area, a public address system, playground and surface upgrades are proposed. Longer term, a $3 million grandstand and a new car park ($155,000) are on the agenda.

While funding isn't assured yet, the short-term infrastructure will be considered in the council's capital works program. The council will also work with sporting groups to access grants.

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Cr Walker said thoughts had also turned to the Cookbundoon fields and how they could be improved for football, which was similarly growing.

"Our job at council is to represent the community and make things better," he said.

"People have come to us with their ideas (for North Park) and I think we're moving in the right direction."

Mayor Bob Kirk declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in the matter, given his daughter's role as Goulburn Junior Rugby League secretary. He remained in the room during discussion.

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