A TERRACED seating area at Alexandra Park athletics complex is almost certainly going to be named in honour of Albury sporting identity Les O’Brien who died suddenly last year.
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The recommended action of Albury Council staff to recognise Mr O’Brien was endorsed by its community and cultural committee on Monday night with only one opponent, Cr Murray King, who didn’t provide his reasons for voting against.
Cr David Thurley acknowledged the public debate about a suitable recognition, but said the clincher for him was Mr O’Brien’s family had been consulted and were in favour of the still to be constructed terraced seating area on the western side of Alexandra Park being named after him.
“It seems to me they are happy with this decision,” he said.
“They will even have some part in the way the final look of this dedication stand goes.
“It is appropriate recognition of a man who spent a lot of his life around athletics.”
Cr Alice Glachan said she agreed with the sentiments of Cr Thurley and hoped other “significant contributors” could also be recognised within the athletics track.
“This would set a precedent that various components within the greater facility could be named after significant members of our community who have contributed as significantly as Mr O’Brien has indeed done over many years,” she said.
Cr Graham Docksey said with family support council had no option, but to back the move.
The terraced seating has been endorsed by the Alexandra Park athletics track advisory committee as a priority project with $340,000 allocated in council’s four-year delivery plan.
Once built it will have major usage with 50 to 60 carnivals held at the venue each year.
The funding application to the NSW Government is being drawn up in the hope the project can be fast-tracked.
Only one area of the wider Alexandra Park sporting complex is named after an individual.
In 1992, a section used for soccer and cricket was named after businessman and sportsman Ian Barker after he died.
Alexandra Park was named in the late 1890s and is also home to rugby union and hockey.