Croquet Club Relocation

Nowra Croquet will need to be relocated as a result of the Bomaderry Nowra Regional Sports & Community Precinct Master Plan. During the public exhibition period Council staff held a number of meetings with the Executive Committee of Nowra Croquet to discuss potential site relocation options and the details associated with relocating the club. Currently the club have two (2) courts located at the existing Bomaderry location, however, the club is growing and has plans for an additional two (2) courts. As a result, they have requested a like-for-like facility be provided as part of this relocation.

Council staff presented the following site relocation options and undertook preliminary investigations and planning for:

· Edwards Avenue, Bomaderry

· Leonard Street , Bomaderry

· Upper Thurgate Oval, Bomaderry

· Nowra Showground

· Ratcliffe Park, Worrigee

· Corner of Kalendar & Albatross Road, East Nowra

Concluding preliminary investigations and site inspections, both parties agreed that John Berry Reserve located at Edwards Avenue, Bomaderry was the best site to relocate Nowra Croquet. Croquet have now provided two (2) mud map designs to Council outlining a like-for-like replacement facility which includes:

· Four (4) competition sized courts (currently two (2) competition sized courts are provided at the Bomaderry site)

· Club house and amenities

· Car parking

Since the public exhibition period the Nowra Croquet Club has advised Council of their preference to remain at their current site, however an alternate option for the provision of croquet courts has been identified on the Master Plan site within the Artie Smith Oval. This alternative site has been discussed with Council staff and Croquet Club representatives.

This alternative site is as a result of the need to make changes to the car parking, bus parking and drop off zones for the Shoalhaven Indoor Sport Centre project commensurate with the requirements in the recently approved development application, which will result in the loss of space for the junior cricket field at the Artie Smith Oval (which is accommodated on the adjacent Bomaderry Sporting Complex site). The remaining space however; is adequate to potentially accommodate up to four (4) croquet courts and ancillary facilities such as a club house / storage (shown below).

The site plan presented below identifies how the croquet courts could potentially be sited and accommodated at Artie Smith Oval. It is suggested that further consultation is undertaken with the Nowra Croquet Club.

With the imminent commencement of work on the indoor sport centre, the site excavation works would enable soil to remain on site and be used to form the foundations and base for the croquet courts, negating the need to remove soil from the site and saving money.

Subject to the outcome of further consultation with the Nowra Croquet Club it is requested that Council consider allocating a budget of $20,000 in 2017/18 to advance a concept design and cost estimates to provide croquet court at an alternate location.

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