Home to the Parkes Pumas Touch Association and often host to regional and state championships, Cheney Oval is again undergoing rehabilitation.

The Cheney Oval Rehabilitation project will deliver the final stage of critical rehabilitation works to Cheney Oval.

The first half of the oval has been upgraded and has been successful.

This project will see the second half of the oval completed using similar design principals and remediation, a report presented to the October meeting of Parkes Shire Council explained.

These works will mitigate salinity and drainage problems which make parts of the oval unusable.

Tasks competed so far as part of the rehabilitation include regions two, three and four drainage works 100 per cent compete, region one drainage works 60 per cent complete, water main 100 per cent complete, bulk out salinity affected material 100 per cent complete, load in, level and compact new clean sub-soil material and load has been spread across the site.

Tasks that will be completed within the next two to three months includes the load in, mix and place 100mm loam/organics mix, irrigation system replacement/repair installation works and prepare surface, lay new turf and allow establishment.

Last year, council secured $1,00,467 in funding from the NSW Government from round five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund to complete major works within the Parkes Shire including the completion of salinity mitigation at Cheney Oval.

The first half of the oval upgrades in 2021 saw the bulk removal of salt affected soil and re-building of the area.

This also included the installation of sub surface silt drains along the playing surface to mitigate saline build up in the soil and flush out to collection sumps and the installation of new turf on the playing surface.

The approved budget of the rehabilitation project is $740,467 and estimated total when completed is expected to be $1,069,000.

The expected due date of completion for this project is January 2026.