The Goulburn Workers Club no longer wants to allow use of the Workers Arena for the sport, a recent council report stated. The synthetic fields have been provided since 1992 but due to wear and tear, only one field has been available for use.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett said Goulburn Hockey had been approaching the council for almost three years, seeking direction on maintaining the existing facilities or providing new ones.

“The council has on every occasion over that period sought that Hockey detail exactly what is required and a business plan to support that detail. That information was never collated,” Mr Bennett wrote. 

Now a working party has been formed to fast-track investigations.

Crs Peter Walker and Andrew Banfield, a former hockey player, will join Upper Lachlan Shire councillor Paul Culhane as members. Three representatives from Goulburn Hockey and and one from Crookwell Hockey will also join the working party.

Their task is to recommend a location and preliminary design for new hockey facilities in Goulburn on council land It will also detail the steps needed on further investigation to complete the project.

The working party will report back to the council by March 31, 2018. It will have authority to include other members who can add expertise and draw on support from senior council staff.

Cr Margaret O’Neill, who chairs the sports committee, has also asked to be an observer at meetings.

Cr Banfield said he and the Hockey Association wanted to keep membership “short and sweet” without too much “external influence.”

Cr Walker said it was “a very good initiative” to have as many people involved as possible, including Crookwell, to enhance grant funding opportunities.