The city was weeks away from moving to level four-five water restrictions in October 2019 and Bathurst Regional Council needed more ways to conserve water.

The decision was made to defer several major sporting projects, which would have required substantial water to get them up and running.

Now, more than a year later, Chifley Dam is practically at capacity and the effective ban on new sporting infrastructure can be lifted.

Council's manager of recreation, Mark Kimbel, said that it's subject to funding availability, but these projects are allowed to progress.

"Over the past two years a number of sport field development projects have been placed within [council's] operational plans for implementation, including the construction of the two additional multipurpose rugby / rugby league fields between Ann Ashwood Park and the Jack Arrow sports complex, additional football field reconstruction works at the Proctor Park Football Precinct and the reconstruction of the sports oval at the Bathurst Sportsground," he said.

"These projects were put on hold in 2020 due to extreme water security issues that were being experienced at the time.

"Now that Bathurst has received sufficient rain events that have filled the Ben Chifley Dam, it is considered that the sports field upgrade and reconstruction works can now commence, subject to funding availability."

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Mr Kimbel said designs and specification documents are currently being finalised for two projects, which are earmarked for construction in the coming months.

"Council has finalised the design and specification documents for the reconstruction of the Bathurst Sportsground and funding is provided within the current 20/21 Operational Plan for this project," he said.

"... Council is finalising designs and specification documents or the reconstruction of fields 4,5 & 6 [at Proctor Park], however at this stage will not be calling tenders until full funding for their construction has been secured.

"A grant application has been submitted to the State Government to contribute to the cost of this project. Applications have closed and are currently being assessed."

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Mr Kimbel also confirmed that council can still utilise NSW Government funding for the Hereford Street project.

"The grant administrator has approved an extension of time for the works due to the delay that was experienced by the recent drought," he said.

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