Goodwood Oval plan sparks backlash as residents slam loss of public space
Tensions are rising as a decision looms on a controversial $6.3m upgrade of Goodwood Oval that local residents say will rob them of much-used open space.
Unley Council’s $6.3m upgrade of the Goodwood Oval precinct is dividing the community, with residents up in arms as sporting clubs await much-needed upgraded facilities.
The main concerns surround the extension of tennis courts and 15 new cricket training pitches, which are slated to take up open space on the old hockey field within the precinct.
The proposal is heavily backed by the Goodwood Football Club and Goodwood Cricket Club, who are based at the site and say the upgrades are necessary to deal with increased participation.
However, regular users of the site are concerned by the loss of open space under the plan, which they say will rob them of an important area for recreation, exercise and social activities.
Community members also say they’ve been left in the dark by the council as a decision on the project looms.
Deb Clarke, who started an online petition regarding the lack of consultation, has used the precinct to walk her dog over the past 12 years and finds it a good place to be social.
Her petition has almost 650 signatures, with many commenters angry about the reduction in open space.
“I have used it to walk my dog twice a day and meet people to talk and have a walk” Ms Clarke said.
“It makes me feel pretty angry that this plan proposal has come out with 15 cricket nets on which would take up more than half the current open space.”
The cricket nets would be moved from a site at the southern end of the oval under the plan.
She also said a group of concerned local users were compelled to drop flyers to around 2000 nearby houses to inform people about the proposed changes because the council had only dropped letters to houses directly opposite the oval.
Another resident Chris Russell, who travels to the oval from further afar, said he would still be affected, emphasising the importance that the council put more effort in informing the wider community.
Many locals say they would likely have to find new spaces for their recreation if the project goes ahead.
“If it does go ahead, I suspect the result will be that I don’t use Goodwood Oval anymore and would have to look at other alternatives” Mr Russell said.
The Unley Council says it has been open to community feedback on the project since November 20 through the ‘Your Say Unley’, and that no final decision has been made on the cricket nets.
It said that its decision would be guided by that feedback from the community.
The council says that corflute signage has also been installed around the precinct that is visible to nearby residents and Goodwood Oval users alike.
Upgrades to the Goodwood Oval playing surface and drainage, and the tennis facilities, have been committed to.
Originally published as Goodwood Oval plan sparks backlash as residents slam loss of public space
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