Oval purchase to benefit juniors

JUNIOR sport will be the big winner from a City of Greater Bendigo move to buy an oval in Golden Square.

The City announced last week that it had bought Backhaus Oval from the Diocese of Sandhurst. It did not reveal the purchase price.

The City plans to use the oval to support the future provision of active open space, describing it as a strategic piece of land.

CEO Andrew Cooney said the City would bring the oval and facilities up to a standard suitable for community sport.

“This is an important parcel of land that is considered in adopted strategies as an ideal site to provide more open space in Golden Square, particularly to support junior sport,” Mr Cooney said.

Backhaus Oval was identified in the 2020 Golden Square Recreation Reserve Master Plan and the 2022 Golden Square Structure Plan as an ideal site to address the suburb’s undersupply of public open space.

“This investment will help to address the current overuse of Golden Square Recreation Reserve (Wade Street) by spreading the load for junior and senior football training and games, support the growth in women’s participation and support forecast population growth in the local area,” Mr Cooney said.

“Backhaus Oval is also ideally located, with links to the Bendigo Creek Trail walking and cycling corridor, which will soon include the Bendigo Low Line connection, and the site is already an existing recreation facility and appropriately zoned for community sport.

“The City’s immediate priority will be make-good works to ensure structures on the site are safe.

“An upgrade program will be prepared to guide staged future investment.”

The Wade Street oval is home to the Golden Square Football Netball Club, which has been advocating for a second oval to cater for demand on its facility during winter months.

The club has indicated interest in using the upgraded Backhaus Oval.