A NEW indoor sports centre could soon become a reality in Scone.
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Upper Hunter Shire Council has acquired a block of land in Guernsey Street, adjacent to the Scone Memorial Swimming pool – and can now take the next steps towards building a complex based on plans first developed some years ago.
The site, which was formerly a BP fuel depot, has been remediated and BP has generously sold it to council for $1 plus legal fees.
Upper Hunter Shire mayor Wayne Bedggood thanked BP Australia for what is, in essence, a donation.
“We are delighted to be able to provide this parcel of land to the Upper Hunter Shire Council for the benefit and enjoyment of the local community,” BP Australia president Andy Holmes said.
“We’d also like to acknowledge the patience and support of the council and residents whilst we undertook various works at the site.”
Following considerable community consultation and working closely with sporting groups and youth services over many years, council developed a concept plan for an indoor sports and recreation centre for the site.
“This project has been several years in the planning and we are pleased to be taking the next step, which will include revisiting the designs,” Cr Bedggood said.
The block of land connects adjoining sites council owns, providing the capacity for a substantial new complex suitable for a number of different sports.
When considering the future of the dilapidated youth centre, gymnasium, and some of the older facilities at the Scone Memorial Swimming Pool (but not the 50m pool), there could be considerably more space for a new sports complex.
Facilities could include an indoor heated lap pool alongside the outdoor pool, toilets and shower, kitchen, clubrooms for different sports, staff and first aid rooms, new youth centre facilities, a café, and indoor sports hall with audience seating for hundreds of people.
The timeline for the project is dependent on successful grant funding, and the usual rules around development applications will apply.