Last chance for comments on Kitchener’s revised master plan

More parking and pickleball lines have been added to Kitchener Park’s draft master plan but cricket may still be leaving despite round three of feedback on the plan.

In July last year, multiple draft master plans of Gunnedah community facilities were placed on public exhibition.

Of those plans, Kitchener is again on public exhibition while others await further design consultation (to be reported back to council in March 2025).

In July, this plan included key changes to the park, such as reconfiguration of sporting facilities (meaning the turf wickets and cricket usage on the oval would be removed),

replacing existing grandstand seating, upgrading the courts with one converted into a multipurpose court, and the addition of a ‘learn to ride facility’.

The revised master plan can be found on council’s website.

It outlines the opportunity for the site to be dedicated to rugby league. The revised plan suggests cricket users take advantage of Wolseley Park and the Riverside Precinct.

From the third round of public feedback, there were seven written submissions and two key verbal discussions at the drop-in sessions.

Many of these submissions had concerns around the field moving away from cricket, causing its users to relocate.

Some of those key points in regard to cricket were; its long history at Kitchener Park, it being relocated to a potential flood-prone area (facilities maintained at Wolseley Park and a new facility within the Riverside Precinct), Kitchener not being used during summer if cricket is gone, and cricket being left without a local home (if the replacement oval is not ready before the move).

The revised plan states that cricket would not be removed until completion of a replacement facility.

Despite the submissions against moving cricket from Kitchener, the plan remains unchanged.

One submitter reinforced their support for the relocation of the cricket wicket out of the field, which they believe would come with the ability to “host touring premier teams”.

Some submitters raised other suggestions and critiques outside of the cricket topic.

Their key points included the surface on the oval being “impractical” and “dangerous” for rugby league, whether courts will be open for the community or need to be booked, and a preference for fencing around the perimeter of the park.

A submission to change one of the courts with four pickleball courts may receive just that. The new plan has a tennis court upgrade to include pickleball lines along with plans already to convert one basketball court into a multi-court.

Another submission desired more parking for the field, and now the plan has additional new parking allocated adjacent to the play and casual recreation area.

It was clarified in Gunnedah Shire Council’s December meeting that it would be looking for grants to fund the project.

“The delivery of what ends up in these master plans is not yet funded and the intention would be these documents would enable them to be supporting documents for grant funding applications as opportunities arise,” director infrastructure services Jeremy Bartlett said.

Community members will have until Monday, February 3, at 5pm to return comments via a submission to council upon reflection of the new Kitchener Plan.