AusLeisure

Following extensive community consultation, the City of Hobart has released a draft master plan for South Hobart Oval and Park.

Once agreed, the final plan will guide future upgrades to the sports ground, basketball and tennis courts, park space and play areas while ensuring cultural, environmental and social values are upheld and improved.

Introducing the plan, Hobart Lord Mayor, Anna Reynolds stated “this draft master plan is the result of an extremely high level of engagement and enthusiasm from a broad cross-section of the local community, which is clearly very passionate about this space.

"Close consultation with the community has revealed a very clear desire for upgrades to existing facilities, including better change rooms, referee rooms and toilets at the oval.

"The community also clearly feels the space is fractured and faces many access challenges, with a need to create better connections between the oval and the playground.

"The draft master plan highlights the fact the playground equipment is dated and tired looking, and does not cater to older children."

The ‘South Hobart Recreation Ground’ is listed on maps dating back to the 1890s, with indications it was used as a sporting ground as far back as 1904.

It is the home of the South Hobart Football Club, which played its first game in 1910, and the basketball courts and play areas are extremely popular with the local community.

The oval hosts a range of fixtures, including high-level clashes with teams from other states while it has become one of the most popular off-leash dog exercising areas in Hobart.

The draft master plan highlights divergent views on whether or not the oval is compatible with use as a sports ground and an off-leash dog exercising area.

Several other sportsgrounds managed by the City of Hobart also allow off-leash dog exercise, including Sandown Park and the West Hobart Recreation Ground.

City of Hobart Healthy Hobart portfolio co-Chair Councillor Dr Zelinda Sherlock thanked all sectors of the local community and key stakeholders for their passion, enthusiasm and insightful comments in shaping the draft master plan, commenting "more than 600 people shared their views about how they would like to see the South Hobart Oval and Park improved as part of the development of this draft master plan.

"Key stakeholders consulted in drafting this plan include the South Hobart Football Club, South Hobart Sustainable Community, the South Hobart Progress Association, Football Tasmania, the Hobart Dog Walking Association, South Hobart Playgroup and South Hobart Primary School.

"The high level of engagement from the local community and key stakeholders has led to the development of a comprehensive draft master plan that will help shape the future of this much-loved South Hobart community and recreation space.”

Comments on the draft plan can be made until Friday 29th September.

The draft master plan can be viewed on the Your Say Hobart website at www.yoursay.hobartcity.com.au/south-hobart-oval

Images: The South Hobart Oval (top) and the venue's adjacent playground (below). Credit: City of Hobart.

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