The Greater Bendigo City Council will consider a report to adopt the Golden Square Recreation Reserve Master Plan at the next council meeting on Wednesday July 17.
The Golden Square Recreation Reserve provides facilities for Australian Rules football, netball and cricket and includes the Golden Square Swimming Pool. It is located within a precinct that also includes the Golden Square Bowls and Croquet Club, the Bendigo Creek Trail and Golden Square Primary School.
The master plan has been developed to identify the future use and strategic direction of the reserve.
A report to Council notes the reserve is currently landlocked with poor integration between the current users and its facilities do not meet current standards and need to be renewed. Additional facilities are also required to meet growing sport participation demands. The report also notes there is community pressure for retaining the swimming pool versus replacing it with other community facilities.
The master plan has been developed by independent sports and leisure consultants Otium Planning Group following market analysis, background research and two distinct community and key stakeholder engagement processes. The most recent was conducted last month, in June 2020, which consulted on five development options:
Option 1 Retain the Golden Square Swimming Pool and relocate the Golden Square Bowls and Croquet Club
Option 2 Replace the Golden Square Swimming Pool with other community facilities
Option 3 Replace the Golden Square Swimming Pool (with other community facilities) and relocate the Golden Square Bowls and Croquet Club
Option 4 Develop Backhaus Oval Reserve as Golden Square's main senior sports facilities
Option 5 Do nothing and work within the existing confines of the reserve, upgrading facilities where possible, but not including additional facilities.
