Footy club to kick on

By Melissa Meehan
FORMER Beaconsfield footballer and Liberal candidate for Gembrook Brad Battin has thrown his weight behind his former club’s fight to move into Holm Park oval in 2011.
Mr Battin said the club could be forced to wait another three years before they could play a football match on the Holm Park oval after being left waiting for the past 10 years.
He said there were many families in the region keen to utilise the new facilities, but so far had only been disappointed.
“I call on the State Government to support this project – with more than 3000 people expected to use the new facilities this project is vital for the community,” he said.
“There are many families in Beaconsfield that are either directly involved in or know someone who is involved in local football, netball or cricket and the potential delay is very frustrating for everyone.”
Labor Member for Gembrook, Tammy Lobato said she was delighted that with State and Federal Government funding support, as well as council funding, the Holm Park Road Recreation Reserve would provide a magnificent new sporting venue for the club as well as for other sporting groups.
“My understanding is that council is meeting its previously stated financial commitment to the development of the reserve along with $500,000 in funding from the Brumby Government and $264,000 from the Federal Government,” she said.
“The project to transform these 12 hectares of land is of necessity a staged project.
“However, I am informed that the advice council gave to clubs in August last year that ovals will be available for part of the 2010-2011 cricket season, as well as the 2011 football season, is still on track.”
Ms Lobato said stage two of the project would include a state-of-the-art $1.5 million social clubroom and in the meantime the club could still utilise its existing rooms that would also be retained for sporting use even after the construction of the new facility.