SPECTATORS attending football and netball at Horsham City Oval will no longer be allowed to park their cars around the ground effective immediately.
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Horsham Rural City Council’s technical services director John Martin said parking inside City Oval was now restricted to the designated parking areas adjacent to the netball court and behind the main clubrooms.
For Horsham’s home game on Saturday against Stawell about 20 parking bays will be signed off along Baker Street for elderly and/or disable parking. Game day permits will be issued by the Horsham Football and Netball Club.
“There have been anecdotal reports of near misses at similar venues, where a car has inadvertently rolled forward and come close to colliding with families who are seated on the edge of the oval,” Mr Martin said.
“There are many other dangers associated with cars reversing or driving amongst spectators.
“Horsham Football and Netball Club, the City Oval Advisory Committee and Council agree that the potential danger must be eliminated.
“We must prioritise safety over short term inconvenience.”
The changes come after a safety review identified parking around the ground to be an unacceptable risk, for a number of reasons, including the potential for vehicles to roll off the viewing mounds that surround the oval.
Mr Martin said the parking change was the first step in a series of improvements for the venue in the coming years.
A master plan will be developed, with all user groups involved in developing an enhancement strategy.
“Simply stopping cars from parking around the ground may not be the final outcome. A working group of representatives from different sporting groups and council officers will be investigating ways to improve access and viewing arrangements,” he said.
“Our aim is to develop facilities at the City Oval so people are encouraged and supported to safely attend events in comfort.”
Horsham Football and Netball Club chairman Geoffrey Lord said safety had to be the first priority at City Oval.
“We understand Horsham Rural City Council’s decision. While this may be a change from past practice, we realise that for the safety of the community, in particular our supporters, families and visiting teams that this decision has been made,” he said.
“We are continuing to work closely with Council to ensure the provision of disabled parking access.
“We’ve tried some alternatives but they didn’t prove useful. Public safety is our main concern.”
The council and club urged elderly or disabled patrons to seek a disabled parking permit at the gate on game day.