The 64-hectare site formerly known as McEwen Reserve is home to athletics, badminton, soccer, BMX, netball, tennis, hockey, equestrian, football, radio control cars, basketball, table tennis and many other sports.
The first review since 2013 was driven by the need for strategic guidance for future development, to better respond to changing demographics, participation trends, and to address issues such as gender equality, accessibility and sustainability.
Development of the reserve over time has been on an ‘as needs’ basis and the Greater Shepparton City Council officers’ report said various land exchanges and limited funds had resulted in an ad-hoc arrangement of disconnected sporting fields, courts and individual parking provision for each sport.
In December 2020 council officers appointed architecture and design business Urban Initiatives to review and update the master plan to provide an updated strategic plan for future planning.
Feedback and minor changes included upgrading perimeter fencing at the athletics track, renewing the hockey surface and upgrading the pathway between hockey and the Murray Slee Pavilion.
Lengthening the main soccer pitch is a priority to accommodate multi-purpose high-level events such as rugby during the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as well as fresh Sports City branding and inclusion of updated concept design and drawings for the Shepparton Sports and Events Centre.
Cr Sam Spinks told the July meeting Sports City was home to a great number of sports and was a rapidly developing space.
“You need a master plan to look at it in a holistic way, but like any master plan it is a guiding document, it is not locking anything into place,” she said.
Cr Dinny Adem said the document was an anchor point.
“As things change, we will no doubt change the plan accordingly,” he said.
