Tenders for construction at the preferred site, an undeveloped portion of Carr Confoy fields at Eastgrove, could be called by June, 2019 if all goes according to plan.

It also depends on funding.

Councillors at their meeting on Tuesday night will be asked to allocate $150,000 from a special projects reserve to undertake necessary planning. This includes a concept design, preparation of tender documents, a traffic study, review of flooding impacts and environmental factors, and finalisation of a business plan.

While some have claimed the fields were not suitable due to flood risk, the council’s community facilities business manager, Rob Hughes said an engineering solution was available. 

The recommendation for Carr Confoy came after the Goulburn Workers Club advised the local hockey association that it was taking a different direction with the current complex off Finlay Road.

Although the Club made the complex available for another five years, the Association remained concerned about its future and approached the council to seek alternatives. Since then a working party comprising council and hockey representatives from Goulburn and Crookwell has investigated sites.

Mr Hughes reports to Tuesday’s meeting that two artificial surfaces and access to adjoining grass fields is the preferred set-up.

He said NSW Hockey had found that if suitable facilities were not identified, the area would continue to lose people to other sports. 

“Goulburn Hockey claims to have over 800 registered players, which does not include a large number of former players not playing due to field constraints and playing times,” Mr Hughes stated.

“Goulburn and Crookwell boast a proud history of hockey with the associations being in existence for over 100 years. There are numerous State and Australian representatives generated within the region, which includes the current captain of the national women’s team (Emily Smith) and representatives in the men’s and women’s teams and the Burras.

“In the junior ranks, over 10 locals, across the boys and girls under 13 division, were selected in the State team, with two of them being named as captains of their respective teams.”

A new complex could pull in State and regional carnivals with potential to generate over $800,000 in economic return to Goulburn for each one, he wrote.