Stonnington Council to hold talks with Chadstone, Holmesglen TAFE for sports stadium

A deadline has been set for choosing the home of Melbourne’s newest indoor sport stadium, with three options on the table.

Chadstone Shopping Centre has been ranked as the ideal location for Stonnington’s new sports stadium in a new report. Picture: David Crosling

UPDATE: An inner east council will explore two new locations for its contentious indoor sports stadium following a marathon discussion by councillors.

Stonnington Council will hold further talks with Chadstone Shopping Centre owners Vicinity Centres and Holmesglen TAFE to partner for its $26.7 million netball and basketball stadium.

The two sites were ranked highest in a report by independent consultants and the project’s advisory committee, ahead of the stadium’s long-planned home of Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park in Malvern East.

The councillors spent nearly two hours debating the report at its May 3 meeting, which was largely drawn out by points of order, complaints about following correct procedures, and discussion on an amended motion.

Mayor Kate Hely was replaced twice by Cr Jami Klisaris during the debate after Cr Alex Lew called for dissent in the chair.

Cr Lew felt Cr Hely was not conducting the debate correctly in accordance with local government laws.

He also called out fellow councillor Polly Morgan and alleged she was backtracking on an election promise to take the park “off the table for good” as a stadium option.

Cr Morgan disagreed, stating the stadium was much-needed and her position was to instigate the review and explore alternative and additional sites.

“The stadium is urgently needed, and we need something delivered by the end of the full term of council,” she said.

The council will receive a report by July 5 detailing its talks with Vicinity and the TAFE, and whether the park should remain an option.

“While Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park remains the best council owned site for the facility, we will investigate this potential creative use of private space for public use and keep our options open,” Cr Hely said.

Councillors also voted to continue the project’s stakeholder group but not invite a representative from Netball Victoria to join.

The proposed stadium has been Stonnington’s most divisive issue for the past four years.

The council commissioned an investigation into alternative sites in December as it awaited the outcome of a Supreme Court challenge by nearby residents to build the stadium at the Malvern East park.

Stonnington’s new indoor sports stadium has long been planned for Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park, the home of the Chadstone Bowls Club. Picture: Sarah Matray

The court ruled in favour of the council in March and granted it permission to remove covenants shared by residents which prevented construction of an underground carpark.

Stonnington Ratepayers president Dean Hurlston, also a member of the Residents Against The Stadium group, said he was “thrilled” with findings in the report, instigated by Cr Lew and Cr Morgan.

“This is proof that council got it wrong and that the previous location (Percy Treyvaud) was never fully tested,” he said.

“We are thrilled that the new councillors were bold enough to insist there were better alternatives … and the girls of Stonnington will likely get access to a better and safer site that isn’t shoved in the middle of residential homes.

“This is a win for all Stonnington residents and should be fully supported.”

The council gave the green light to Chadstone’s $685m upgrade in July, which will be delivered in six stages and finished by mid-2025.

Centre manager Michael Whitehead confirmed it had been approached by the council with a preliminary concept for the stadium and was open to future talks.

“Chadstone has advised council it is open to discussing the concept and exploring options to continue the partnership’s rich history of delivering projects that benefit the local community,” he said.

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