Following the adoption, YVC has used the plan as part of its application for $1.1 million under the NSW Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund.

YVSC president David O’Brien said he was delighted council adopted the strategy and hoped the funding would be successful.

“The adoption recognised the importance of Walker Park as a regional sporting facility,” he said.

As well as sports, the facility has also hosted social and other non-sporting events.

“Being a natural amphitheatre with a large surface area, Walker lends itself well to playing host to large events, such as the touch carnival, Relay For Life with potential to host non-sporting activities such as festivals and concerts,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Unfortunately, Walker Park over the years has dropped off the pace in terms of the core infrastructure and it was a harsh outcome the Magpies were unable to host a finals match [in 2017].

“It wasn’t that long ago Canberra Raiders hosted lower grade rugby league trials there against Penrith.”

He hoped the funding application would be successful to soon see improvements underway.  

“As a parallel activity, sports council plans to bring together Walker Park users to put in place a plan to address some improvements outside of the strategic plan,” he said.

The adoption follows an extended period of consultation with the community and local sporting clubs.

The final plan, which highlights the need for significant upgrades to one of Yass’s most heavily used sporting facilities, considered comments in submissions received from the community during the public exhibition of the draft in December 2017–January 2018.

User groups who submitted included the Yass United Rugby League Club, a property owner near Walker Park and the Yass Football Club.

The draft included a conceptual design that was created to establish the future direction of development for the facility.

“Walker Park is recognised as a regional sporting complex and, as such, requires facilities to adhere to these requirements,” YVC’s director of engineering Robert Fish said.

“Of the submissions we received, comments related to protecting privacy for residents bordering the Walker Park complex, access for residents, lighting, and various design considerations suggested by user groups.

“We have listened to this feedback and addressed the comments in the revised strategic plan where relevant, or will take them into consideration in any future works,” he said.

The adopted plan outlines a proposed priority program for development of the site as a regional sporting facility.

It will enable YVC to meet the needs of user groups and provide a basis for future grant funding applications.

YVC has submitted its expression-of-interest application for the $1.1m NSW fund and is now working on a more detailed application.

Shortlisted projects will be notified in June 2018.

Murrumbateman, Sutton, Binalong and Gundaroo sporting facilities will be the next to be reviewed by council staff.

The draft Murrumbateman strategic plan will go before council in the near future to be endorsed for public exhibition.