Big plans for future of Dapto Showground revealed
The ambitious plan from Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society to turn the Dapto Dogs’ home into a “lifestyle destination” has been revealed in full.
Illawarra Star
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New details about the potential future of the Dapto Showground have been revealed, with documents detailing concept plans for a “community space” with a “vintage, fairytale” feel.
The new precinct at the site of the iconic Dapto Dogs, would be titled “The Groundz”, and would include a brewery, retirement living precinct and indoor recreational facility, according to documents released by the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
A concept brochure about The Groundz was released by the newly created Groundz Alliance on Sunday, who appealed to the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society for information after news of secret plans broke last week.
The documents also revealed plans for an indoor recreational facility, which could include a childcare centre, swim school, or laser tag facility.
“Craft beer and signature cocktails” are also part of the society’s vision for the “brewery/ large family area”, which is intended to focus on locally grown produce.
A sensory playground, multipurpose hall and shipping container precinct with cafes, florists, a potential day spa and bakery also feature on the concept plan.
As well as this, the society notes a small part of the showground is zoned for private living, and proposes a potential seniors living complex to cater for Dapto’s ageing population.
The Agricultural and Historical Society proposed to leave the existing pigeon shed on the site, which it says would add to the “vintage appeal” of The Groundz.
The design concepts of The Groundz are also outlined in the plan, with the space set to draw on “leafy gardens and green spaces to unwind”. Due to the size and various spaces contained within the proposed precinct, the concept plan details the potential use of golf carts to transport people to and from different areas.
Eva Deli, one of the founding members of the Groundz Alliance, said the body called on the release of the plans after the society announced it would cease operating the Dapto Dogs every Thursday night, prompting Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) to appoint an administrator and reinstate racing at the historic track.
While both parties are now in the Supreme Court, Ms Deli said it was important decisions about the future of the Dapto Showground remained in the hands of the community, and not with GRNSW.
“This draft plan was developed in 2018 and there’s a lot of different ideas that there that would benefit the community in terms of jobs and providing for the future needs of the community,” she said.
Ms Deli claimed the society had shown the plans to Greyhound Racing NSW before their negotiations and relationship broke down, but a spokesman for GRNSW denied ever seeing plans for The Groundz.
In the plans, Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society does not rule out continuing greyhound racing at the site, with a vision of developing a “multipurpose oval” which could be used for a variety of sports.
“(The) Oval to be expanded to allow suitability for recreational sports, if possible … Greyhound Racing NSW to contribute to track, kennels, and TAB area pending confirmation,” the concept plans read.
These plans fall in line with a statement made by the society last week, where it “acknowledged the precious history of the Dapto Dogs, and see no reason this could not continue in harmony with all other community groups which enjoy the benefits of the location.”
Ms Deli, said there were a lot of ideas in the plans that catered for more than just the “niche greyhound racing group”, but that it had still been hit with community pushback.
“We are getting a lot of support but there are plenty of pro-racing people who are very anti-development,” she said.
“I think the news about ‘secret plans’ have put people off but there is potential here and we want community feedback.”
Despite The Groundz just being a statement of “plans and goals” at this stage, the Agricultural and Horticultural Society has called on community feedback about the potential new precinct, confirming it would begin “an extensive consultation process”.