Potential precinct uses outlined

THE Surf Coast Shire has officially earmarked more indoor court space, netball rooms and car parking as possible new features of Banyul-Warri Fields over the coming years.

Councillors adopted the Community and Civic Precinct Future Land Use Plan 2022 at their meeting on July 26.

The original masterplan for the precinct, located to the north-east of the council chambers in Torquay North, was created in 2009, and then reviewed by the council in 2014.

Several projects have been delivered or are in the delivery stage, with some differing to the 2014 plan.

According to the report presented to councillors, the continuing and future growth of not only the population in the area but also the local clubs mean the shire requires a Future Land Use Plan to guide development within the precinct for the next 10 years.

The shire publicly exhibited the draft plan for four weeks in March and April, and received 48 submissions from both individuals as well as clubs and associations.

As well as the seven projects listed as identified uses for the precinct – including the Aquatic and Health Centre and the Multi-use Synthetic Facility – considered by officers to be “the best future uses of the area”, the plan also lists four potential future uses in the precinct to cater for emerging community needs.

The first of these would be two or three more indoor courts at Wurdi Baierr Stadium, which would have to be built to the south as Surf Coast Secondary College is to the north and there is existing infrastructure (or plans for it) to the east and west.

The number of outdoor netball courts would go down by at least one (as per the plan) or possibly two, but the overall result being an increase in overall courts, with more indoors and less outdoors.

An expansion of the stadium could also house new netball amenities for the precinct.

The plan states the Surf Coast Suns presently use the amenities in the Grant Pavilion, but growth in participation and the netball club’s teams may necessitate provision of amenities closer to the courts in the future.

More car parking around the western side of the western oval is listed as a potential future use.

The plan noted this parking was identified in the original precinct masterplan, but parking in the precinct is now “inadequate at peak times and will be a further challenge with the addition of the Aquatic and Health Centre”.

An area on the precinct’s south border, between the two ovals, is listed for “potential future improved open space amenities”, though “engagement would be undertaken to inform the type of amenities to be provided”.

Cr Adrian Schonfelder welcomed the new plan.

“I feel this precinct really is such an important part of our community, and I would even say it forms the heart of the community as far as nearby educational facilities and the new indoor arena,” he said.

“It has so much potential and it is very well loved.”