Council listening to equestrian concerns over multi-sport ground

Published on 25 January 2018

The City of Launceston is actively addressing the concerns raised this week by the equestrian fraternity over the installation of a junior cricket pitch on the Council-owned multi-sports ground at Inveresk, adjacent to Invermay Park.

The Council is committed to ensuring the multi-sport ground can be used by as many different user groups as possible, General Manager Michael Stretton said, adding that the Council is more than willing to work with equestrian group to cater to their needs.

The recently-installed junior cricket pitch is designed to accommodate booming junior cricket club memberships across Launceston and comprises less than one per cent of the surface of the multi-sports ground. The pitch has been located towards the northern end of the facility, in an effort to avoid conflict with other sports.

Last year, the Council hired the ground to local sports groups on more than 130 occasions, including three equestrian events. Other users of the multi-sport facility include local junior and senior football clubs, football umpire associations, the Tasmania Fire Service, Camp Quality, and various soccer and cricket clubs, amongst others.

"The Inveresk multi-sport ground is an important community facility which is used by numerous community groups for different purposes in any given week," Mr Stretton said.

"Different groups generally understand that compromises are involved in any multi-user facility which caters to such a diverse array of sporting pursuits.

"We've listened to the criticisms from some members of the equestrian community about the new pitch, and we'll consider those to see if there's a workaround that everyone can agree on."

Mr Stretton said that Council staff had met this week with members of the equestrian community to hear their concerns, and that this weekend's event planned for Inveresk would be proceeding.

"The next major equestrian event is set down for later in the year, so we have time to work through the issue and come to a resolution," Mr Stretton said.

"I have committed that the Council will undertake a process to understand the needs of all users of that facility to determine the best way forward — and to see if there's a workaround for their continued, mutually agreeable use of the area."

Mr Stretton reiterated that the parcel of land in question was not under lease by the Launceston Show Society, as had been claimed on social media.

"The land is owned, operated and maintained by the City of Launceston as a multi-sport ground for the many different user groups in the wider Launceston community," he said.

The council charges a flat rate of $192.50 for full day hire of the multi-sport ground, which helps to fund maintenance and upgrades.