The deadline to complete a survey on the proposed Multi-Use Indoor Sports Stadium has been extended by Horsham Rural City Council.

“Due to a fantastic response so far over the past two weeks from our community regarding the current work being undertaken regarding a Multi-Use Indoor Sports Stadium Study the project control group wants to keep the survey open until close of business April 25,” A Horsham council statement said.

“This will provide opportunity for family members, who may be at home this weekend and on ANZAC day,  our school community and  others who has been away over the school holidays to have their say on this important issue.” 

The survey can be completed online at surveymonkey/com/r/horshamstadium

Written submissions will also be accepted until April 28 via PO Box 511, Horsham Vic 3402, or emailed to council@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

EARLIER

HORSHAM Rural City councillors have received complaints about the locations shortlisted for a potential new stadium and indoor sports complex.

Residents have also complained about a general lack of community consultation during a feasibility study for a new multi-sports complex.

Despite community concerns and Cr John Robinson’s request for greater consideration of refurbishment to existing venues, councillors voted unanimously on Tuesday to accept an update on the issue.

Horsham council mayor Pam Clarke left the chamber during debate on the motion owing to a potential conflict of interest in the matter.

The 2017-18 draft budget has already proposed to allocate $200,000 for next stage of design for the indoor community centre and sports stadium.

Cr Robinson said he was happy to accept the update but pointed to his prior motion to consider existing facilities in view to make the best use of ratepayers’ money.

“I have had a number of people in the community express concern that we are going full steam ahead towards a new facility,” he said.

Cr Robinson said he wanted a robust examination of options not a ‘tick and flick’ job.

Cr Les Power said he had been in Horsham for 40 years and the basketball stadium had been there all that time.

“We are looking to the future. This has got my full support,” he said.

A prior feasibility study had considered 11 potential sites around Horsham and narrowed it down to the basketball stadium site incorporating the northern end of Horsham Showground and McBryde Street; the southern end of Horsham Showground adjacent to McPherson Street; or the railway corridor.

Cr David Grimble said he had a lot of phone calls on the lack of community input in the selection of shortlisted sites.

“It is important to maintain the current Horsham Basketball Stadium and not let it fall into disrepair because we a quite a way from actually building a new sports stadium,” he said.

“I have received a number of phone calls over the past week about the ability to have input into the shortlisting of selected sites.

“A couple of the three shortlisted sites were seen as not even suitable by the people I spoke to. If this is to be successful, it needs community support.”

Cr Grimble said a lot of state and federal money had gone into school sport venues that were not available to the public all the time.

Cr Mark Radford said the stadium survey was still open and it was important to hear from the whole community as a lot of responses had been from older people.