NEWS DESK
Basketball board makes cash claims Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au
Bipartisan funding found for Seaford football LIBERAL Carrum candidate Donna Bauer has visited RF Miles Reserve to announce a $2.6 million funding commitment to the ground if the state Coalition win the upcoming election. This announcement matches the election commitment made by Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny on 19 October towards new facilities. The Seaford Football Club home ground has been out of use due to nearby Level Crossing Removal project works. “We’ve listened to the community and we’re getting on and building a better RF Miles Reserve where more families can spend quality time together,” Ms Kilkenny said about her commitment. “We’re building on what people already love about Seaford, creating more open space and a brand new pa-
vilion for local sports clubs to grow. I’d like to thank Seaford residents for their patience as these important works were undertaken, this level crossing removal now means a safer and less congested community. “Major works to restore and improve the oval will start later this year, with the brand new surface ready to go for the 2020 footy season.” Frankston mayor Cr Colin Hampton has expressed his support for the “positive announcements” being made for the ground. “We have had numerous discussions with politicians and candidates and will continue advocating for this vital upgrade to be completed ahead of the state election in November,” he said. “I’d like to thank Seaford Cricket Club and Seaford Football Netball Club for their efforts in lobbying for
this project, and urge the community and club members to continue to raise their voice and let candidates know that this project will secure their vote.” Mr Hampton has also called for a commitment of federal funding from Dunkley MP Chris Crewther and Labor candidate Peta Murphy. Council has committed $3.347 million towards works to refurbish the ground. While their ground has been overtaken by level crossing works, Seaford have been playing their home matches at Belvedere Reserve. Donna Bauer and Sonya Kilkenny MP both talked at a forum organised by Frankston Council on 30 August. The election will take place on 24 November.
FRANKSTON District Basketball Association have accused Frankston Council of refusing to return $2.5 million to the state government. The money was pledged by the state government to the expansion of the Frankston Basketball Stadium in Seaford. Plans to build that stadium fell through after a new lease agreement could not be reached between council and FDBA, in a saga that saw Dunkley MP Chris Crewther use his parliamentary privilege to take shots at the basketball board. (“Basketball Money on way to park”, The News, 17/4/2018) Federal funding touted for the Seaford stadium project was diverted towards Jubilee Park works. FDBA said in a statement on their website that they have been working with Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny to “deliver alternate facilities for basketball located on crown land. Unfortunately, this process has been hampered by Frankston City Council’s refusal to return the $2.5 million back to the state government.” “This refusal directly undermines the opportunities available to the association to co-fund alternate facilities to the benefit of the 1000s of players, coaches, officials & volunteers connected to the association
through their shared passion for the sport of basketball. “The rationale of council’s refusal is based on council having spent a large proportion of the $2.5million on design & legal costs.” Frankston Council CEO Dennis Hovenden did not respond to queries from The News asking if the money had been spent. Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said that “the state government fully expect the $2.5 million funding for the unsuccessful Frankston Basketball Stadium project to be returned in full, seeing as the project was never started.” The FDBA statement said that “as advised to Sonya Kilkenny MP, it is the position of the FDBA that this funding committed to in 2014 be activated for the benefit of basketball in Carrum electorate which was and continues to remain the intention of the funding,” “Due to this issue now escalating with both the state and council engaging legal teams to work through the current impasse, Frankston Basketball encourages you to lend your voice so this much needed funding remains in the seat of Carrum, for the benefit of basketball.”
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
31 October 2018
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