City of Greater Bendigo purchases land to support junior sport

Aimed at providing more open space in Golden Square - particularly to support junior sport - the City of Greater Bendigo has purchased a strategic piece of land to support the future provision of active open space.

Backhaus Oval was identified in the 2020 Golden Square Recreation Reserve Master Plan and 2022 Golden Square Structure Plan as an ideal site to address Golden Square’s undersupply of public open space.

The City negotiated the sale of the site from the Diocese of Sandhurst.

Chief Executive Andrew Cooney said the City would invest in the coming years to bring the oval and facilities up to a standard suitable for community sport.

Cooney shared “this is an important parcel of land that is considered in adopted strategies as an ideal site to provide more open space in Golden Square, particularly to support junior sport.

“This investment will help to address the current overuse of Golden Square Recreation Reserve (Wade Street) by spreading the load for junior and senior football training and games, support the growth in women’s participation and support forecast population growth in the local area.

“Backhaus Oval is also ideally located, with links to the Bendigo Creek Trail walking and cycling corridor, which will soon include the Bendigo Low Line connection, and the site is already an existing recreation facility and appropriately zoned for community sport.

“The City’s immediate priority will be make good works to ensure structures on the site are safe. An upgrade program will be prepared to guide staged future investment.”

Image. Golden Square Recreation Reserve. Credit:City of Greater Bendigo