Masterplan shows Orange’s new sports precinct in parkland setting

The Landscape Masterplan for Orange’s new sports precinct released today by Orange City Council shows the precinct’s location next to Sir Jack Brabham Park creating a parkland setting with walking trails, recreation and meeting areas, BBQ spaces and water features.

More trees will be planted that are on-site now. 784 new trees will be planted on the site with the old, high-value, remnant Eucalypts among the trees Council plans to keep.

The draft masterplan shows the location of key facilities such as the 1500-seat stadium alongside Forest Road and a specialist athletics track next to Huntley Road. It also includes barbecue areas, shade structures, a natural creek drainage system, pedestrian and cycle networks, meeting places and seating in a parkland setting.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd believes the Orange community will be delighted when they see the plans and enthuses “what I’m really excited about is the great new design ideas, such as permeable, grassed car parks that are also dotted with trees.

“We’re looking at places and features that will acknowledge the site’s history as a former aerodrome and the former Gnoo Blas motor racing circuit. The designers have a done a great job. All this, and a first-class sports precinct as well.”

The draft Landscape Masterplan prepared by Taylor Brammer will be open for community consultation.

Mayor Kidd adds “Orange City Council has listened to the community. We know how much people love trees. That’s why I’m delighted that 784 new trees will be planted on the site – that’s more trees than we have now. The site has some old, high-value, remnant Eucalypts and they’ll be among the 112 trees that we’re keeping. There are another 18 trees that will be transplanted in Orange from the site.

“The old trees and parklands in the grounds of the Bloomfield Hospital are a treasured part of Orange’s heritage, and that’s why we want the new sports precinct to blend in with that backdrop, creating a new parkland setting.”

Orange City Council’s Sports & Recreation Committee chair, Jason Hamling said he is looking forward to work getting under way.

“The people of Orange have been waiting for a long time for work to begin on this $25 million project. The message I am getting from the Orange community is ‘get on with it’.

“The community is overwhelmingly behind it. The state government wants us to start and the Heritage Council has supported the overall concept.”

The Landscape Masterplan for the new sports precinct can be downloaded here.

Image: Landscape plans for the proposed new sporting precinct show more trees will be planted that are on-site now.