Prospect Council considers multi-million dollar plan to transform Broadview Oval into a regional sporting hub

BROADVIEW Oval would transform into a regional sporting hub under a multi-million dollar Prospect Council plan.

BROADVIEW Oval would transform into a regional sporting hub under a multi-million dollar Prospect Council plan.

Two double-storey clubrooms, four extra tennis courts, an upgraded BMX track and 50 additional carparks are included in the plan presented to the council last week.

The council paid 180 Sports and Leisures Solutions $21,000 to develop the masterplan, which did not include costings.

But 180 Sports and Leisures Solutions director Mark Band said it would go “into the millions”.

Broadview Oval is home to football, cricket, tennis, croquet and lawn bowls clubs and is used by about 1750 people easch week.

Broadview Football Club facilities director Greg Birse said a new double-storey clubroom to be used by the football and cricket clubs could lead to an increase in members and teams.

“We’ve been talking to the council for a long time for this master plan, maybe a couple of years now, and we are right behind the council,” Mr Birse said.

“We think it’s an incredible opportunity to have access to a good-quality facility that reduces maintenance burden on us as a club and enables us to put the money into putting kids on the park.”

Broadview Croquet Club president Alf Schantl said his club was “quite happy” with the plans.

“Everyone should have equal or if not better facilities where they are going and nobody should be worse off,” Mr Schantl said.

Prospect-Broadview Bowling Club president Stephanie Simms called it a “wonderful community project”.

Broadview Tennis Club president Neale Arthur and Prospect District Cricket Club president Andrew Ormandy also welcomed the plan.

“We are certainly in favour of it,” Mr Ormandy said.

“It’s not being utilised as much at the moment and the facilities will be improved for our players and our spectators and that’s a must.”

Councillors at a meeting last week said they wanted full costings before voting on a design at the August meeting.

Prospect Mayor David O’Loughlin said the plan was “well thought out”.

“This may take 20 years to deliver but its exactly the same as what we did at Prospect Oval and the Memorial Gardens,” Mr O’Loughlin told the meeting.

“We’ve got to start somewhere and chip away at it.”

Cr Scott Roberts said the plan would “transform the whole area”.

The council’s chief executive, Mark Goldstone, said the plan was subject to funding from state and federal governments.