NOVEMBER 21, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Damjan Janevski)
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Champ draws on a fighting spirit World champion boxer Sylvia Scharper believes her father would be proud if he could see her now. After losing her dad as a teenager, the Footscray boxer channelled her rage into something positive and processed her grief in the ring. She has been immortalised in a film, Relentless: The Sylvia Scharper Story Story, which premieres next week. ■ Full story: Page 8
Call to open hospital site Open space and affordable housing must be high on the agenda for future redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital site, according to Maribyrnong council and residents. Star Weekly last month reported the outdated 290-bed Footscray Hospital could cease operation by 2025 under a $1.5 billion state government election pledge to build a new 504-bed hospital on the carpark opposite Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus. The move could help open up the existing
site, which covers more than five hectares – making it a prime target for developers. Maribyrnong council has identified the hospital’s likely move as a chance to create more open space in an area struggling to cater for a rapidly growing population. The council has written to Health Minister Jill Hennessy expressing its “strategic requirements” for a new municipal open space in the Footscray Hospital precinct. The push has been welcomed by nearby resident Caroline Hardy, who helped spearhead the creation of a small pocket park on the site
of the former council depot adjacent to the hospital. Stage two works on the park have been stalled since 2015 because of concerns about contamination at the site, a former quarry and landfill. She said residents were encouraged by the council’s approach to open and green spaces. “We are certainly very keen to see this commitment fulfilled,” she said. Labor has pledged to invest $35 million to buy or re-purpose 25 small pockets of land in built-up suburbs to create new parks where there is a lack of public open spaces.
Maribyrnong mayor Martin Zakharov said Footscray was crying out for more open space and the hospital site offered an obvious outlet. “I think there is a good chance we could come out ahead here in terms of open space,” he said. Kate Breen, spokeswoman for affordable housing lobby group HousingAIM, said redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital site should include affordable housing. “It is critical any future residential redevelopment … include a significant proportion of affordable housing for lower-income households,” she said.
Sports mouth guards starting at $90
Denture Repairs from $70 returned in 1hr* *Conditional on the type of repair method required.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION DENTURE CARE CLINIC www.altonadentureclinic.com.au
8 Borrack Square, Altona North
9391 9998
1182408-CG18-15
By Benjamin Millar