City Oval Redevelopment - Frequently Asked Questions

No, it will stay as it currently is.

Original concepts as part of the Draft City to River Masterplan showed the oval re-orientated to run north-south with an expanded playing surface.

However re-orientation was abandoned following community consultation prior to the Masterplan’s adoption in 2021.

The multi-use pavilion will consisting of the following key spaces:

• Two main change rooms with amenities (44sqm and 42sqm)
• Accessible change room (12sqm)
• Three umpire change areas (8sqm each)
• First Aid/Medical room (16sqm)
• Social space, kiosk and pantry (59sqm)
• Office/Netball administration (55sqm)
• Equipment and storage space (40 sqm)
• Spectator (public) amenities X 3 (including an accessible toilet) (24 sqm), all with external access
• Canopy for external shelter (150sqm) – to provide a large undercover viewing area
• Mounding of viewing areas
• Landscaping and connecting pathways
• Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) element

The City Oval Concept Plan does have the playing surface of the oval increasing by three meters on each side.

This is planned at a later stage of the redevelopment and depends on external funding.

Hocking Street will remain a two-way straight road connecting O’Callaghans Parade and the bottom end of Firebrace Street.

Parking will be significantly improved. With sealed parking bays, upgraded drainage, pedestrian crossings and footpaths on both sides of the street.

This is to make room for the new netball pavilion and multipurpose stage as well the new footpaths.

Netball will be able to return to City Oval next season. The two new netball courts will be completed ready for round one. The netball pavilion will not be completed and alternative change room arrangements will be made. 

Football will not be interrupted at City Oval.

There will be changes to parking arrangements within the ground, and improved parking availability outside the ground following the completion of Hocking Street works.

The City Oval Concept plan adopted in 2021 shows the removal of this building, but at this stage Council does not have the funding to complete these works.

Council is advocating for state and federal Government funding for a new single-story modern and accessible community pavilion and sporting change rooms.

The new facility will be available for community use.

HRCC is awaiting the outcome of a federal government Growing Regions Fund grant application which will allow the project to proceed.

Horsham will be able to attract large scale music and entertainment events. 

Streaming of these events live or graphics on large screens is part of the design and the new structure will accommodate removable LCD displays on each side and across the back of the stage.

Due to our regional location it is not feasible or economical for touring shows to bring all required infrastructure for these displays, so our stage has been designed to support the screens.

The Soundshell at Sawyer Park cannot now host modern music festivals because it has a limited capacity for patrons and performers and is more than 40 years old.

The new stage will meet contemporary sound and lighting requirements and be able to host up to 8,000 people.

Council will initially target the scheduling of two large events in the first year of operation, increasing tourism numbers by up to 15,000 people which would create an estimated $5 million boost to the Wimmera economy.

It will also benefit local sports competitions on match days or presentations.

A replacement grandstand on the Baker Street side of the oval is included in the City Oval concept plan.

The planning works will happen over the next financial year however construction will only take place when funding becomes available for this final stage of the City Oval precinct development.