Figure 3 Location of Concord Oval

2 DESCRIPTION OF CONCORD OVAL

2.1 Location and context

Figure 3 shows the location and context of Concord Oval.

Figure 3 Location of Concord Oval

Concord Oval is located in the suburb of Concord within the Canada Bay local government area. The study area is approximately mid-way between Sydney 10 kilometres to the east and Parramatta in the west.

Concord Oval is bounded by Parramatta Road and commercial businesses across Parramatta Road to the south, Loftus Street and detached residential dwellings to the west, Gipps Street and St Luke’s Park/Cintra Park to the north, and a Westconnex site to the east. Concord Oval is situated within the Crown Reserve for St Lukes and Cintra Parks, an extensive area of Crown land extending north to Canada Bay.

2.2 History and cultural heritage

2.2.1 History of Concord Oval site

A Heritage Interpretation Strategy was completed in 2021 including a detailed history of the Concord Oval site. This history has been separated into six distinct phases:  The original environment  Aboriginal cultural heritage and land use  The Longbottom Farm

 The Longbottom Stockade  St Luke’s Park  Concord Oval.

An excerpt from this report providing more detail on these six phases is included at Appendix A.

2.2.2 Heritage significance

Two Aboriginal sites in or near Lot 13 DP 1226181 are registered on the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS). These sites are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, including the requirement to exercise due diligence regarding whether Aboriginal sites may be harmed by certain activities.

The entry gates to St Lukes Park at Concord Oval are listed both in the Canada Bay Local Environmental Plan 2013 Schedule 5 (Item 308) and the State Heritage Inventory as having local heritage significance.

The State Heritage Inventory listing describes the “park entrance and mature fig tree from c.1920s period” as forming a “notable element in the streetscape” demonstrating aesthetic characteristics to the local area (NSW heritage assessment criteria c).

The entry gates have a special local association and are “an important memorial to former mayor of Concord, Daniel Zoeller” (NSW heritage assessment criteria b). The gate posts were reconstructed in 1931-32 and remodelled and relocated to Loftus Street in 1987. The heritage gates have been relocated to their original position as part of the ROCO.

2.3 Significance of Concord Oval

Concord Oval is a first-class sporting and leisure facility in Sydney and is a premier sporting facility in the City of Canada Bay local government area. An excellent playing surface and proximity to public transport set Concord Oval apart from many first-class sporting grounds in Sydney.

Other significant features of Concord Oval are:  prominent location on Parramatta Road including the local heritage listed Daniel Zoeller memorial gates at the Parramatta Road entry forecourt  its position as the ‘gateway’ to the City of Canada Bay  Centre of Excellence for the West Tigers featuring high performance training, education and administration facilities  match day facilities for local sporting clubs  Sydney Water stormwater channel  water harvesting, recycling and reuse initiatives  carparking areas  linkages to adjoining parks, sporting fields, and walking and cycling paths.