HORSHAM Table Tennis Association is no longer among key user groups planned for a proposed multi-purpose sports stadium in Horsham.
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Horsham Rural City Council released a Wimmera Sports Stadium business case and concept design report in December.
The plans include three indoor courts marked for netball, basketball, volleyball and badminton, six squash courts with movable walls and five outdoor netball courts. The site, in Horsham, would have the capacity for 12 table tennis tables.
However, after years of searching for a permanent home and playing at Maydale Pavillion, the Horsham Table Tennis Association purchased the former home of the Italian Social Club at 11 Harriett Street in Horsham.
Horsham Table Tennis Association president Leon Forrest said the group was no longer a key user group of the proposed sports stadium because players would utilise the Harriett Street building.
“We have been waiting since 1963 for a new home and we couldn’t wait five years or more for the stadium to go through,” he said.
We want the stadium to go ahead and we will use it to host larger tournaments
- Leon Forrest
While the association will not be frequent users of the multi-purpose sports stadium, he said he wanted to see the plans move forward.
“We want the stadium to go ahead and we will use it to host larger tournaments,” he said.
Horsham Rural City Councillor Mark Radford said he was excited the association found a permanent, new home.
He said the available space at the planned multi-purpose sports stadium showed the venue could create more opportunities for more sports in the Wimmera.
“They will no longer be a regular domestic tenant, but it creates an opportunity for a new emerging sports such as roller derby, indoor shooting or karate,” he said.
“We are working on inviting another sport to become regular domestic tenants.”
Cr Radford said the table tennis association could still utilise the multi-purpose sports stadium for larger events.
It creates an opportunity for a new emerging sport
- Mark Radford
Cr Radford said the council had continued its work on the proposed sports stadium for Horsham. He said there were no plans of moving away from the stadium’s proposed location of McBryde Street.
The location, at the current site of the Horsham Basketball Stadium and crossing into Horsham Showground, has received criticism from the community and some user groups.
“We will continue to work with the Horsham Amateur Basketball Association – we need to get them on board,” he said.
“Their key issue is with the court usage and we have been working with Sport and Recreation Victoria to put together a package on how the facility will be operated.
“These 10 dot points around the facility’s operation and a suggestion for a new regular domestic tenant will be presented to the project control group.”