At this week’s council meeting, council members opted for no compromise at Goodwood Oval. In other words, a motion put by myself and seconded by Cr Tony Roach, based on compromise was lost 8 votes to 3.

That motion can be read on my other blog today, called Moving Option 2 on Goodwood Oval

Goodwood Oval Precinct Plan

With so many parties vying for the space vacated by the Forestville Hockey Club, I felt the best option was to endeavour (as best we could) to facilitate all interested parties. The only way that could happen was by each party offering a compromise.

The solution to achieve this that I came up with have meant that

• Tennis SA would have to give up one of their walkways. Double fenced walkways that very few people realised were included in their proposal, including elected members.
• The Goodwood Cricket Club would have to reduce the number of turf pitches they were seeking to reduce their impact on the significant tree we all want to save.
• The Goodwood Primary School students would see the number of pitches available to them reduce from four to three.
• Recreational Users, including dog walkers (both large and small) would switch their activity to the oval, making use of the area that would be vacated by the Cricket Club.

The Cricket Club and those representing the School demonstrated a willingness to compromise. Tennis SA, however, indicated that “if Council decides that one of the two walkways be removed, we would not be able to deliver the outcomes intended and Tennis Australia could not proceed with the project”.

All but one member of Council contributed to the debate, meaning it was well debated. That said, I do believe that some may have been influenced by the inability of Tennis SA to participate in compromise.

So! The loss of my motion meant no compromise at Goodwood Oval.

With my motion lost, the Deputy Mayor (who had earlier flagged his intention) moved an option that ensured that both Tennis SA and the Cricket Club were granted what they had both asked for. No compromise, just thank you for supporting us.

Both have been tenants at the Goodwood Oval precinct for nigh on 100 years. This, I believe, was a factor in his moving this way and in the subsequent vote. The precinct was originally (100 years ago) donated as a sporting precinct.

His motion was passed 9 votes to 2, my vote included. Accepting that my motion was lost, I supported his motion. There was little to be gained by ignoring the intent of the Council and lodging a negative vote in protest.

More importantly, both the tennis facility and the cricket practice nets need upgrading. In both cases (particularly cricket) this is to address safety concerns. Tennis to their participants. Cricket likewise but also to the general public.

Where to from here?

Tennis SA will now seek finalisation of their development application for the work that requires approval. I expect there is a fair chance that we will see action on site soon. Their aim, I expect, will be to have the upgraded facility complete ready for the new summer season.

The Goodwood Cricket Club are yet to enter into the process of detail design. Once they have done this and costed their project, including sourcing funding. Once they achieve this we (Council) will consider a funding co-contribution. Given this I would not expect any work on site until at least the next financial year.

Once both these projects are complete, we will be able to restructure the oval including the provision of draining and re-surfacing. This is the essential project as I have been promoting for many years now.

A project that realistically cannot proceed until the Tennis & Cricket projects are complete. Don’t therefore expect this to be any time soon. At best I believe (external funding available) to be in the 27/28 financial year.

The compromise at Goodwood Oval then was me (all of us) accepting the tennis and cricket projects to get what is needed above all, and that is a rebuilt oval, like recently achieved at Unley Oval.