Sports plans gather speed

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan has pledged support for the redevelopment of the city’s major sporting grounds.

Mr Brennan said clever planning was needed to provide year-round use of sporting facilities in Bunbury and developing Forrest Park to house multiple sporting clubs was the best way to offer clubs the best facilities.

“We really can’t afford to have facilities under-utilised at any time of year,” he said.

“It also gives clubs who don’t have the financial capacity to have better facilities rather than operating out of sea containers or old toilet blocks and changerooms.

“We need to look at it from an affordability factor for the city and the Forrest Park solution to get the bowling, soccer and cricket clubs all using that one facility would be a terrific outcome.”

He said developing Forrest Park was part of the council’s broader plan, which included “doing something creative at Hands Oval”.

He said developments were also on the table for Kelly Park, home of the Carey Park Football Club.

Bunbury Bowling Club secretary Laurie Blurton said he was in favour of the development at Forrest Park.

Nationals candidate for Bunbury James Hayward wrote to Bunbury city councillors last week, asking for their support to develop Hay Park and Forrest Park to be funded by the sale of Payne Park.

Mr Hayward said demolishing the building at Forrest Park and building a joint facility to house the soccer and cricket clubs could be a cost effective move for all clubs involved and secure the future for the Bunbury Bowling Club.

“This would provide desperately needed upgraded facilities for a number of clubs within Bunbury which otherwise may not be able to afford it,” Mr Hayward said.