The ACT Government is seeking community feedback on reactivating several dryland ovals to increase sports ground capacity across Canberra.
From today, sporting organisations, peak bodies, and recreational users are invited to share their views on reactivating these ovals for formal sporting use including restoring irrigation.
Five dryland ovals have been identified through an initial assessment of 32 sites across Canberra as potential options to complement nearby sporting facilities and increase future sportsground capacity:
- Lyneham
- Weston
- Spence
- Narrabundah
- Torrens
These sites were short-listed by the City and Environment Directorate because they each possess key features that could support future reactivation, including car parking availability, deactivated toilet facilities or space for new amenities, and existing irrigation infrastructure that could be recommissioned.
Several other factors are being considered alongside the potential reactivation of these dryland ovals, including weather and environmental conditions, seasonal closures, targeted remediation, maintenance programs, and the allocation and availability of surrounding supporting facilities.
Importantly, these ovals also serve a role beyond formal sporting use. Local knowledge and input will be critical to understanding the full picture of how these ovals are used now, and how they can potentially be used in the future.
Any future upgrades or reactivation is subject to consultation outcomes and future government funding. Planning for future restoration of other dryland ovals also forms part of the consultation on the Southern Gateway corridor.
