Esperance Greater Sports Ground Redevelopment
The Greater Sports Ground Redevelopment is a long term plan for the Greater Sports Ground. It will allow for continued growth and accommodation of the multi-sports activities that utilise the facilities and open spaces and the co-location of a number of significant sporting groups. The changing needs of a diverse community will inform and determine future development of this central sporting area.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment project is the New Esperance Indoor Stadium
Stage 2 of the redevelopment project is the Refurbishment of the Noel White Pavilion
Stage 3 of the redevelopment project is the Redevelopment of the Graham Mackenzie Stadium
Council endorsed a Masterplan for the Greater Sports Ground in October 2021, to guide and inform future developments within the precinct.
PROJECTS - Shire Lead
Pages 17 - 20 in Masterplan above.
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1. Additional / Formalising Parking throughout GSG
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Provide formalised and sealed car parking at various locations identified in the plan.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Timeline - Progressive
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2. New Outdoor Netball Courts - COMPLETE
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Provide 4 outdoor netball courts in closer proximity to the Indoor Stadium for juniors and senior training. This project is required before the third soccer pitch / green space can commence.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Other Organisations - Netball Association
Completed - May 2023
- 3. Closure of road between playground and Ports Oval - COMPLETE
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The closure of the road will improve safety especially for children using the playground and contribute to a space for watching sports on Ports Oval. The area would be grassed / landscaped and would complement the tiered seating proposal.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Prerequisite Project - Seal Internal Road from Brazier Street
Completed - 2023
- 4. Tiered Seating on both sides of the Hill
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Provide tiered seating built into the hill for spectators to watch sports on the Ports and Multi Sports ovals and the annual fireworks at the Ag Show.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Timeframe - Medium
- 5. Seal Internal Road from Brazier Street - COMPLETE
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Seal the internal road from Brazier street to Ports Club Rooms, allowing for enough width around the Ports Oval to park a vehicle on the fence and two way traffic around the back.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Prerequisite Project - Removal of Tuart Trees
Completed - 2022
- 6. Third Soccer Pitch / Playing Surface
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The requirement for a third soccer pitch / playing surface has been a high priority for a number of years. The current over usage on the main soccer field from various sports causes significant damage each year, which takes a significant amount of time to rehabilitate after each winter season.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Other Organisations - Soccer Association / Frisbee Group
Prerequisite Project - New Outdoor Netball Courts
Timeframe - Short-Medium
- 7. Fourth Soccer Pitch / Playing Surface
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The requirement for a fourth soccer pitch / playing surface has been allowed for when demand warrants.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Other Organisations - Soccer Association / Frisbee Group
Prerequisite Project - Replacement of Soccer Storage Shed
Timeframe - Long
- 8. NE Public Toilet Block Relocated
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Relocation of the toilet block to a more suitable location will enable the ¾ soccer pitch to become full size and will have better access to more spectators watching the ports oval.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Timeframe - Short
- 9. Graham Mackenzie Stadium Redevelopment
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Redevelopment of the Graham Mackenzie Stadium will resolve the current structural issues and provide a more multipurpose building.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Timeframe - Short-Medium
- 10. Graham Mackenzie Stadium Public Toilet Block Relocated
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Relocating the toilet block will enable the formalisation of car parking in this area and will be provided in a better location for the public toilet near the tiered seating on the hill.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Timeframe - Short-Medium
- 11. Removal of Tuart Trees - COMPLETE
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The tuart trees around the GSG should be progressively replaced with more appropriate species that are more compatible with overflow camping and the general amenity of the GSG.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Completed - 2022
- 12. Power Upgrade - COMPLETE
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The existing GSG power supply is at capacity and requires upgrading before any new development can occur.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Completed - July 2023
- 13. Close Road behind Graham Mackenzie Stadium
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The current road through the GSG encourages drivers to use it as short cut, creating issues around safety and amenity particularly if the new netball courts are constructed in their proposed location. It is proposed to close off the road between the Graham Mackenzie Stadium and the Agricultural Society sheds and have a chain gate across the roads, to allow access only during certain events e.g. overflow camping or the Agricultural Show.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Prerequisite Project - Seal Internal Road from Brazier Street
Timeframe - Short
- 14. Multi-sports Oval Small Extension
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A small extension of the Multi Sports ovals is require to fit the athletics track and cricket, when it is required to be shifted down due to the because Synthetic Hockey project.
Lead Organisation - Shire of Esperance
Other Organisations - Athletics Association
Timeframe - Medium
Projects - Externally Lead
- 1. Cricket Pitch relocated on Multi-sports Oval
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The cricket pitch relocation will be required to shift the cricket oval to the South. This will work in better with the tiered seating on the hill and is required before the Synthetic Hockey Pitches. The cricket oval in this space isn’t considered as a premier ground. The Ports oval is the premier location for cricket on the GSG.
Lead Organisation - Cricket Association
- 2. Synthetic Turf Hockey Pitches
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The allowance of two synthetic turf hockey pitches on NW of Multi-sports oval is provided in the plan to provide a higher level of hockey standard. A central area between the pitches (15m) is provided for viewing shelters / dug outs. Consideration should be given to what other sports could use the synthetic turf to maximise it usage.
Lead Organisation - Hockey Association
Prerequisite Project - Cricket Pitch Relocation / Power Upgrade / Multi-sports Oval Small Extension
- 3. Tennis Courts SE corner Relocated
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The expansion of the South-eastern corner tennis courts will better utilise the current space and allow for additional tennis courts if required in the future and more parking.
Lead Organisation - Cricket Association
- 4. Upgraded Playing Lights for Ports Oval
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Provide competition standard lighting for Ports oval, minimum 100 Lux. This will enable twilight / night games. Consideration is be given to installing poles that could accommodate 300 Lux. This would mean that small ball sports could play if the need arises.
Lead Organisation - Ports Football Club
Prerequisite Project - GSG Power Upgrade
- 5. Replacement of Storage Shed for Soccer
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When the future playing space is warranted, the current Soccer Shed needs to be replaced for storage adjacent to the current netball club room.
Lead Organisation - Soccer Association
- 6. Relocation and Replacement of Horse Stables
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The relocation of the current stables into the Esperance Agricultural Society’s leased area would create space for addition playing fields. Old horse stables were dismantled due to their poor condition, the need for new horse stables should be considered if the demand for their use can be justified.
Lead Organisation - Esperance & Districts Agricultural Society
- 7. New Single Multi-use Pavilion
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The potential for a new co-located multi-use pavilion Interfacing with both Ports and Multi-sports ovals to replace existing multi-sports pavilion and Ports clubrooms. User groups could include football, hockey, cricket, frisbee, little athletics and dog club.
Lead Organisation - TBC
Prerequisite Project - Ports Football Club / Cricket & Hockey Associations
- 8. Consolidation of Agricultural Society Sheds
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The consolidation of the Agricultural Society sheds with one large 60m x 20m multi use shed built adjacent to the shearing/livestock sheds. This multiuse shed would include a community toilet and storage for other GSG user groups. This would also free up the current area for other activates i.e. circus or events.
Lead Organisation - Esperance & Districts Agricultural Society
- 9. Netball Club Rooms
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The current Netball Club Rooms should be considered for their ongoing usage given the new stadium, proposed new outdoor netball courts and the Noel White Centre redevelopment. If it is advantageous to relocate netball to the New Stadium Complex, then there is an opportunity for the likes of Soccer and Frisbee to utilise this facility. This will need to be negotiated with netball as they own the building.
Lead Organisation - Netball Association
Other Organisations - Soccer & Frisbee Association
Prerequisite Projects - New Outdoor Netball Courts