NEWS DESK
Political promises sought for stadium Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au THE lack of quality sports facilities and resources on the Mornington Peninsula has become an election issue, with clubs and community groups calling for support from would-be MPs. One group, the Southern Peninsula Basketball Association, wants the help of politicians and candidates to achieve its dream of building a community sports and wellness hub at Dromana. The project’s key outcome is for a new stadium to become the administrative hub for all indoor sports in the southern peninsula, which proponents say will boost the peninsula’s economy and employment rate. General manager Ben White said the SPBA had been working with all levels of government on the project for the past three years. He said the centre would provide sporting groups with an all-weather, safe and cohesive centre that encourages additional sports, such as badminton and volleyball. “This will be delivered through constructing an additional three courts and increased seating for 2000 spectators,” he said. “The benefit of this project is to be able to engage with the wider community and cater for all abilities sports and development which is currently lacking in the area.” Mr White said the association was pushing hard for the project, and that it was “clear it is starting to become a contentious issue with lack of resources in the region for this”. The association, which has organised a petition, has met with federal Liberal and Labor candidates and will soon meet the independents and state election candidates in the hope that they see the merits in financing the facility. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said he would
ARTIST’S impression of the “sports and wellness hub” planned for Dromana. continue to meet with the Southern Peninsula Basketball Association about its plans for a stadium in Dromana. "We are also currently building an incredible gymnasium at Rosebud Primary School which will be an asset to the entire southern peninsula community." With the peninsula’s rapid growth in population and amenities in recent years, Mr White said sports such as badminton, volleyball and table tennis would continue to fall through the cracks without extra courts. The five courts used by sports bodies at Dromana are now at 100 per cent capacity and as recently highlighted in Mornington Peninsula Shire’s indoor sports facility audit, at least another 15 courts will be needed by 2030. The proposed Dromana redevelopment includes a show court, which will be able to attract players and clubs from around the region and meet the standard requirement to host major and regional events and competitions.
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Mr White said the SPBA would be able to cater for all groups, including disadvantaged community members - people with a disability, the elderly, low-income, single parents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and newly migrated families - as outlined by the federal government’s aim of driving social inclusion through sports and participation. Vulnerable groups would be offered programs and assistance such as “walking with basketball” for those who are less active or able. The courts will offer childcare, all abilities access and facilities, and designated male and female locker rooms for home and opposing teams, and a new administrative area. Basketball Victoria’s general manager member and services, David Huxtable, said his organisation supported developing facilities to support the growth of basketball in the region, which was backed up by data on the growth of sport in communities. “What is harder to measure is the positive impact that a recreational facility can have on the local community, with the capacity to increase the community’s interaction and the continued development of team characteristics,” he said. Each year the SPBA holds the second-largest basketball tournament in the southern hemisphere, bringing close to 20,000 players, spectators, referees, and volunteers who often stay on the peninsula. It is estimated the event brings about $1.9 million into the peninsula’s economy. “We are focusing on delivering the largest infrastructure project in the southern peninsula of an all-inclusive sporting and wellbeing hub. An achievement that would see countless benefits to the community and economy and rekindle social inclusion,” Mr White said. If given the go ahead, the project’s new building will be located next to its current centre in Old White Hill Road, Dromana. To sign the association’s petition, go to sthpen. com.au
Continued from Page 1 Ms Hosking cautioned that the section to Langwarrin would not go ahead without the cooperation of both state and federal governments, and the state was not yet on board. The shire council’s advocacy document highlights that there is currently no access to public transport for 82 per cent of the peninsula community. Ms Hosking said another way of looking at it was that five per cent of Melbourne’s population “already lives beyond the end of the Frankston train line, and this number grows daily”. “Current and future demand for public transport means that councils with vision and guts, like the shire, can get on with long-term strategic infrastructure planning.” The council stated that, “improved rail access will provide clear benefits to our community” including “a reduction in car dependency; better connectivity and access to jobs, education, services and amenity; and improved connectivity for those with restricted mobility”. Ms Hosking said the shire council was showing that “it understands the big picture, that transformational public transport projects like this need to get rolling so the next generation will benefit”. “The council’s advocacy campaign will give the rail project a big boost. It’s important to have both local councils reminding today’s state and federal governments to build the infrastructure our children will rely on.” Frankston Council too has changed its position on the proposed train extension, telling Transport Infrastructure Minister Ben Carroll last October that it wanted a “staged delivery approach, commencing with electrification ... to a new Leawarra Station”. This letter also stated Frankston was “supportive of extension to Langwarrin should further investigations determine that being the more appropriate location for the first stage”.
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23 February 2022
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