Councillors and community members gathered together to hear about the proposed stadium redevelopment and outdoor pool complex, voicing their concerns and asking questions of the panel. 

Griffith City Council was short-listed to apply for state government funding of up to $10 million to build the multipurpose facility. If successful, council has pledged to match $10 million in funding. 

According to guidelines, the business case for the application must be submitted by August 31 and the proposed facilities must be built within three years. 

If council are successful, it plans to develop the existing Westend Oval complex, in addition to building a 50 metre outdoor pool.

While the final masterplan with the final details is not yet known, plans for the complex have been released. 

Under the proposal, the Westend complex would contain: 

The new 50 metre outdoor pool would be built at the existing aquatic centre, with the old Griffith skate park demolished to make more room. 

While some raised the possibility of a site at the Griffith showgrounds,  mayor John Dal Broi and general manager Brett Stonestreet confirmed to receive funding, council must be an owner or trustee of the proposed site. 

Cr Dal Broi acknowledged the showground site had merit, but said the case needed to suit government funding. 

“There was an overwhelming support that we continue with preparing a business case and going to the next step,” he said.

“There was a view we should look at the showground. The real issue there is we need to cut the cloth to suit. We don’t have enough money and there’s a restriction government put on it.”

Mr Stonestreet also confirmed at the meeting that finer details – such as the number of lanes in the outdoor pool – are yet to be decided upon as council is still in the application process. 

Business Chamber President Paul Pierotti was critical of council’s “presentation, not consultation” attitude to the forum. 

“Again we see the example presenting, rather than consulting the community,” he said. 

“Council just does’t understand the different between consultation and presentation. This is clearly another presentation after the face,” he said. 

He’d previously raised issues with the proposed site, including locations of the outdoor pool and Westend Development. 

“Consultation is where you receive open and unedited feedback from the community and then try to collate that to represent the community and their views,” he told the Area News last week. 

“Griffith showgrounds is central to the CBD. It’s also close to Griffith High School, Griffith Public School and Kalinda School.”

Community member Craig Tilston spoke out at the conference about the importance of having a 50 metre pool. Speaking after the meeting, he said it was important to invest in a facilities for future generations. 

“We need to be able to provide them with the facilities and we need to get the best chance to get them. It’s a step in the right direction,” he said. 

“I think last night was reasonably positive. Council were given a fair chance to explain the proposal. Nothing has been approved yet. We haven’t been lucky enough to get the tick,” he said. 

He says he understands concern around the pool’s location, but feels the proposed site also has merit. 

“I understand the angst, but as was pointed out in the first step of the criteria for the grant, both site are controlled and owned by council. That’s the criteria.” 

Others at the meeting encouraged council to think big. Martin Ruggeri addressed the panel during question time, citing the development of other regional towns as an example as inspiration for Griffith to take a “pie in the sky” approach. 

“One thing we need to think about, with respect ‘is this a big enough crack at it?’ This is probably going to be the only time that we are going to have the opportunity do this within the next 60 – 80 years,” he said. 

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He pointed to the importance of having enough space allocated to help grow facilities and accommodate infrastructure.

Mr Ruggeri said sports tournaments held in places like Wagga could be constrained in holding tournaments decades to come because of their limited space and the growing number of people participating in sport. 

“The other centres that are taking those tournaments away from us are actually constrained,” he said. 

With proper planning, he feels Griffith could use this to its advantage. 

“If Griffith can stick their hand up and say ‘you know what, we can actually accommodate all the soccer … we put ourselves in the box seat.” 

Griffith City Council has forms available on their websites asking for community feedback.

Additional information, including council’s proposed sites and feedback questionnaires are available on Griffith City Council's website.