Construction is expected to begin on stage one of the Stromlo District Playing Fields later this year. Image: ACT Government.
The Stromlo District Playing Fields are a step closer to reality with the development application now open for community feedback.
The playing fields will be located in the southeast corner of UC Stromlo Forest Park near the 2003 ACT Bushfire Memorial.
It will be delivered in two stages with construction due to begin later this year.
Stage one’s expected to include the site preparation works, a central sports pavilion, one synthetic grass sportsground (consisting of two rectangular fields and one modified AFL oval), match play LED sportsground lighting, a central internal road and landscaping.
Stage two would see one natural grass oval with a centre turf cricket square, adjoining cricket practice nets, one natural grass rectangular field, LED sportsground lighting for both fields and additional landscaping.
It would include an extra 208 car parks (including eight disabled spaces), four secure staff bicycle parking spaces, 22 visitor parking spaces and a pick up and drop off area for 12.5 m buses.
According to the DA, the total cost of the works is slated to be $26,915,221.
It’s expected almost 1260 trees will need to be removed but none have been declared protected or part of a declared site.
The DA noted an ecological study identified a “few small patches” of box gum woodland at the northern end of the site near Holdens Creek.
It was determined that while they met the criteria for the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the ACT Nature Conversation Act, the proposal was “not likely to have a significant environmental impact” provided the works adhered with mitigation measures.
“These small patches have been exposed to significant historical modification, through grazing, pine plantation, clearing, native tree planting and invasion of weeds,” the DA noted.
“Additionally, a riparian vegetation corridor 20 m wide, either side of the centreline of Holden Creek has also been allowed for, with a planting buffer.”
Mitigation measures included temporary fencing around the box gum woodland and along the boundary of the riparian vegetation corridor before construction began, signage on the fencing outlining no construction activities were to occur inside the fencing, and for a 5 to 10 m buffer to be planted with native groundcover species wherever changed surface levels would result in water run-off flowing onto the box gums.
The fields would be built on vacant bushland in the UC Stromlo Park. Image: Development Application.
The fields will be near the Stromlo Observatory, in a “dark sky” area, meaning there will be strict light pollution restrictions for the site.
Measures to manage this outlined in the DA include outdoor lighting to turn off automatically at 9:30 pm, dimmers, timers and motion sensors to help reduce unnecessary light pollution, smart sensors for car park and footpath lighting, low-intensity, warm-coloured lighting to minimine blue and UV wavelengths and placing outdoor light fixtures strategically to “minimise light spill into habitats while meeting sports lighting and security needs”.
The LED floodlights for the playing fields will be shielded to prevent light spill.
The DA has outlined light pollution restrictions to help preserve the natural darkness.
There has previously been opposition to the plans with community members raising concerns about potential impacts on nearby waterways, the clearing of bushland and the use of artificial turf.
There’s also concern about the sports field’s proximity to the bushfire memorial.
“Many local residents walk or ride through these bushlands and many others appreciate the bushland views which contribute to wellbeing,” a letter to MLAs stated.
“The location currently holds beginner mountain bike trails which many people, especially children, enjoy.”
The Stromlo District Playing Fields development application is on exhibition until 23 July.
