Plan to sell Payne Park oval sale gathers support

A proposal to sell Payne Park for residential development and use the funds to build a multi-sports pavilion at Hay Park has been put to Bunbury city councillors by Nationals candidate for Bunbury James Hayward.

Mr Hayward wrote to the councillors this week proposing the expected $15 million from the sale of the residential land be used to house multiple sports clubs in Bunbury.

“The level of feeling across the board from multiple sports clubs in Bunbury is the poor condition of buildings which are in need of development,” he said.

“We need to have a very big approach to provide a solution for a number of groups because the facilities are not at a suitable level for people playing sport in 2016.

“This project could reap millions of dollars through selling off residential land to house more people in Bunbury.”

Payne Park has been home to Bunbury Football Club since the early 1970s, but president Tom Busher said the club needed to look at its future and where it would be best located in the city.

He said the population growth surrounding Hay Park made it a suitable option to move the club.

“This is timely, to have a good look and see what our club needs and what is going to benefit us in the next 30 to 50 years,” he said.

“We need to move forward and we would want to make sure everyone was aware of it and have a suitable transition plan in place.

“We are open to discussions, this won’t happen overnight.”

“It is a long-term prospect which we will take into consideration.”

Mayor Gary Brennan supported the club’s move to Hay Park, as it would open up more opportunities for the community and sporting clubs.

Mr Brennan said consulting with the residents in the area around Payne Park would be key in achieving a positive outcome for all parties involved.

“I’m sure we could do something creative in a way that is supported by the community,” he said.

“Location wise, Payne Park is superb, being close to the CBD and the water.

“The football club has expressed a will to relocate which opens up real opportunities for other sporting clubs to collocate.”

He said in the long run the community benefits because the buildings would be used by multiple sporting clubs at all times of the year, rather than just seasonally.