The Crookwell Memorial Oval Community Sporting Centre Project hit a brief snag recently when asbestos was found buried underneath the footings of the former building.

In accordance with necessary laws and procedures, council’s contractors registered this find with SafeWork NSW and engaged a qualified and independent asbestos assessor to put an asbestos management plan in place.

All asbestos has now been removed and the site has been remediated, ensuring the safety of visitors to the Memorial Oval, now, and for generations to come.

Council’s contractors are still working to the original project timeframe, but this unforeseen issue may have delayed the project’s completion by up to three weeks.

Council is working with the contractor to reduce this lost time. While not ideal, the safety of the community and the construction crews involved in the project are our paramount concern.

Work has started with filling and levelling the site this week, along with the survey and set out to commence the foundation work scheduled to start next week.

As construction overlaps with the sporting season, temporary portable toilets, showers and change rooms will also be supplied from April 1.

The number and duration of these amenities will depend on the project budget available at the time.

When completed, the $1.5 million new community sports centre will consist of a club room, gym, change rooms, referee room, storage facilities, canteen and toilets with disabled facilities.

It will truly be a facility befitting our passionate and talented sporting community.

The Memorial Oval project is just one of many major projects now underway across the shire.