By LIA SPENCER
PAKENHAM has scored a major sporting coup with a $6 million ice rink planned for Bald Hill Road.
If approved by Cardinia Shire, the facility would feature a 60m x 30m rink as well as seating, corporate areas, change rooms, a shop, cafe and other amenities.
Ice hockey would be the main activity at the centre, although skating and other ice sports would also be catered for. Applicant Jon Cornford from Australian Ice Sports said it would attract people of all ages to the region.
The Narre Warren man said Pakenham was the ideal location for the ice rink because of its rapidly growing population.
He said the rink would cater to all demographics but thought it would particularly give young people in Pakenham and surrounds something productive to do with their spare time.
“There are two ice hockey rinks in Victoria and seven in New South Wales. I think people would be excited about one in Pakenham,” Mr Cornford said.
“Hockey is a great sport to play and once people get involved, they tend to be hooked. I don’t think there is much for kids to do in the evening. They could also have a general skate. (There could be) discos, bands. It would be beneficial on a wide scale,” he said.
Joey Hughes, director of Next Level Hockey Australia, said the rink would be “the best thing for Pakenham.”
“If the application is approved, we would work in conjunction to bring our programs to Pakenham. We would run hockey schools,” Mr Hughes said.
“It would get kids off the streets and into sports.”
The 30-year-old from Springvale South plays with the Melbourne Mustangs and has 18 years’ experience in hockey. Mr Hughes said he had seen more and more adults across the state get involved in ice hockey, but thought the sport could grow in popularity with young people due to the large youth population in Pakenham.
“It would fortify the foundation the sport needs to grow at international levels,” he said.
Casey councillor Sam Aziz, who has previously advocated for an ice hockey rink in the City of Casey, said he thought the facility would be a great addition to Cardinia Shire.
“We have an economic partnership with Cardinia Shire and I have no problems with the application being in Pakenham (instead of the City of Casey)- as long as it is in the region,” Cr Aziz said.
“I think it would benefit Casey as well. It will bring people in to the Casey and Cardinia (areas) from outside the region to use the facility- they would use our petrol, eat at our restaurants,” he said.
Cardinia Shire manager Development and Compliance Services Brett Jackson said he was unsure when the application would be assessed by the council as officers were waiting for additional information from the applicant.
