Bathurst Regional Council has awarded a $226,983 contract to Webber Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd to construct two stormwater outlets, including a gabion retaining wall, into Queen Charlottes Vale Creek.

The tender was accepted during a confidential meeting of council last week. 

The work is part of an ongoing strategy to upgrade the facilities at Proctor Park.

In 2015, a $7.42 million draft plan went before council, detailing a series of stages that would enable the facility to meet the demands coming from the growth of football in Bathurst. 

Heavy machinery was brought in during July, 2016 to demolish a home at the gates of the Gorman’s Hill sporting precinct to make a bigger entrance. 

In August this year, the plans for Proctor Park took a big leap forward with a $2,267,308 contract awarded to Renworx Pty Ltd for the construction of three new playing fields. 

Work on the fields commenced in mid-September following the Bathurst District Football men’s premier league grand final.

The work to be completed by Webber Concrete Constructions will tie in with the field work to help eliminate the problems Proctor Park has faced with rain in the past. 

Fields have been unplayable in previous years due to waterlogged pitches during wet winters, seeing many matches called off. 

When the work started on the new playing fields, Bathurst District Football president Andrew Speed said it was an exciting time for football in the city.

“The whole idea is to have drainage so we can play on it after it rains,” he said.

“What was happening before was the water wasn’t draining off the field.

“We feel that it’s been a long time coming and we’ve been working on it in the past 18 months.

“Council have been good, as we have worked through the process.

“Weather permitting, it’ll be ready come the start of next season.”