Precinct News Update as at 23.01.2009

“Sport on the Precinct in 2009 ” Cr Jenny McKay’s Precinct Working Group has been working hard since September 2008 to provide additional information for the Maleny Precinct Master Plan. The six representative groups provided Council with detailed submissions on 30 December 2008. The Maleny District Sport and Recreation Club’s submission concentrated on showing the feasibility of constructing the much needed four playing fields for soccer, touch footie, rugby and athletics – along with two bowls greens, an aquatic facility, and a joint club house to service its 25 affiliated clubs. Technical consultants worked pro bono to show that the playing fields could be constructed with minimal earthworks on what has proved to be some of the flattest land in the Maleny district, central to schools, transport and the township. The area set aside for sport and recreation (area 7A) is large enough to accommodate the sporting facilities, the club house and a central parking area sufficient to service these activities and the northern parklands. The submission from the Maleny Golf Club complements the MDSRC submission, with a community golf course starting near the club house and occupying area 7. The professional assessments confirmed what many people have been saying for quite some time – the Maleny Precinct is big enough to cater for all groups given good will and a spirit of cooperation. Cr McKay expects to report back to Council during March, and by mid-year a Precinct Master Plan should go to the full Council. We are optimistic that leases will be issued to the main Precinct users – MDSRC, Maleny Golf Club, the Historical Society, Barung and Green Hills later in 2009. Our ambition is to construct the playing fields during the second half of 2009 with an access road from Porters Lane. Mike Norman MDSRC www.mdsarcinc.com