The master plan outlines the provision of additional facilities for netball, hockey, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, soccer and touch football at the complex, to be introduced over six stages of construction.

The plans were approved at council’s April general meeting on Wednesday night, and the draft outlining the Master Plan for the complex will now go on exhibition for 28 days.

The proposed changes to the complex include the replacement of the northern cricket and AFL oval with two multi-purpose fields which would be targeted for additional lighting, more car parking areas, more sheds, a location for cricket nets, alterations to the walking-cycleway path, and opening up potential future vehicle access to the complex from Cox Street.

Council passed the motion six votes to two, with only councillors Percy Thompson and Esme Martens voting against it.

Cr Thompson expressed concerns over the potential flooding issues in the area and argued putting all the city’s sports venues in the same spot created an unnecessary risk.

However, Cr Russell Holden rejected the flooding claims, suggesting the efforts previously made to prevent flooding have handled the problem.

Minor amendments have already been made to the master plan based on feedback from sporting committees, and an updated version of the master plan has been developed for council’s endorsement if no public submissions are received.