Opinion divided over oval decision
The Dubbo Regional Council was on a hiding to nothing as soon as it realised there might be a problem with the condition of Apex Oval on September 21.
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An A-league pre-season match, which the council estimates will bring thousands of dollars to our city could be in jeopardy should the pitch be deemed unsafe to play on. So the council decided to move junior football finals away from Apex Oval to give the playing surface the best chance of being in pristine condition for the visiting footballers.
But you can't please everyone all of the time.
Our readers have made their feelings known, some like Katrina Rooke think moving the children's grand final day to Barden Park was the wrong
Are you trying to kill off young kids spirits," she said. "
"These kids turn up to train at these fields twice a week and play on weekend's hoping and dreaming of one day running out of that tunnel and playing on the big Number one field. Dubbo Council should be ashamed."
But Natasha Rankmore was more circumspect.
"I feel sorry for the young children unable to play on this field, but come on Dubbo you all complain when nothing comes to the town," she said. "This is a chance to have money bought into the town, especially when retail is struggling with the way things are."
What would ratepayers have said if they played the day of junior football and the A-League inspected the Apex Oval playing surface and said it was unsafe to play on, costing the council at least $50,000? Not to mention the damage to our reputation, which would all but cancel any chance we might have of hosting NRL or A-league matches.
We believe the majority vote of eight to one in favour of relocating junior games was the only decision the council could make.
HAVE YOUR SAY