Located in The Poplars area of Jerrabomberra/Queanbeyan, immediately to the south west of Tompsitt Drive, Overall said it would provide about 65 hectares of recreational land as well as land for a neighbourhood centre, a business park and large areas for environmental conservation.

“The Draft Local Environment Plan for The Poplars is currently on public exhibition,” he said. “The area is centrally located to Jerrabomberra, Tralee and Queanbeyan and is ideally suited to accommodate the new sporting precinct and aquatic centre.

“Queanbeyan has outgrown its existing sports fields and we now need facilities capable of staging first grade sports, junior sports and hosting regional competitions. Priorities now need to be given to other sports including hockey, soccer, netball, basketball, athletics and a second aquatic centre”

Overall was speaking on behalf of his Group F Community Independents Ticket, comprising current councillors Trudy Taylor, Vic Trajanoski and Peter Bray with newcomers Toni McLennan, Steven Petkovski, Michael Biscotti and Rena Spears, which is seeking election at the September 8 council election.

Overall said his team’s priority for sports would be three-fold:

• Commit funding for the community engagement of sporting clubs and commission drawings for staged Council development approval.
• Apply for Government funding under regional and other infrastructure funding programs for the new sports precinct at The Poplars.
• Upgrading Seiffert Oval.