Have your say on Bunbury's sporting future

Hay Park would become Bunbury’s home of elite sport with a new boutique multi-purpose stadium and even a hotel under an ambitious proposal being pushed by respected football administrator Darren Kenny.

In a move that could throw a spanner in the works of the recently released Hands Memorial Oval master plan, Kenny has called for serious thought to be put into his proposal that he says ‘‘makes sense’’.

The centrepiece of his blueprint is a state of the art multi-purpose stadium that would become a new home for the South West Football League offices, and be capable of hosting top level sporting matches including AFL pre-season clashes and domestic cricket fixtures.

The Bunbury, Carey Park and South Bunbury Football clubs would all continue to play at their traditional home grounds.

‘‘There’s a chance to make a precinct, and create something that the City of Bunbury can become very proud of,’’ Kenny said.

‘‘We can tie a lot of loose ends all together, still maintaining a Kelly Park, a Payne Park and a Hands Oval that have a lot of their own tradition.’’

Kenny said he wanted to see a facility that would still be functional for fans decades into the future.

‘‘The time is now, let’s have a whole look at the bigger picture for the City of Bunbury,’’ he said.

‘‘There is a chance to start building something so that we don’t end up with another Subiaco Oval which is crammed into one corner.’’

Kenny said the junior football ovals, on the site he is proposing for the new facility, could co-exist with the stadium with games played on the redeveloped field.

Released last month the Hands Oval master plan includes three stages.

Estimated to cost more than $2.7 million, stage one of the master plan includes the reconstruction of the playing surface at Hands Oval, as well as a new scoreboard, upgraded lighting and improved spectator mounds.

The period for public comment on the plan closes at 5pm tomorrow.