Percy Treyvaud Stadium: Stonnington Council to explore other locations for $26.7m project

The progress of an inner-city netball stadium has been halted, with new location options — including Chadstone shopping centre — being explored.

Sign protesting over development plans for a new stadium on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Malvern East, Victoria, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

Stonnington’s four-year netball stadium saga is taking another twist, with the council to explore options for a new home for the contentious project.

Councillors voted unanimously on Monday night to halt progress on the $44.1 million masterplan for Malvern East’s Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park, which includes a $26.7 million indoor sports stadium.

The masterplan was approved last year but has not progressed due to a matter involving covenants at the park and residents’ property rights, which is before the Supreme Court.

The proposed stadium’s environmental impact has also angered others, with plans to remove up to 150 trees for the project.

Councillors Alex Lew and Polly Morgan moved a motion for a consultant to compile a report covering options for a new location for the stadium.

The consultant will investigate the suitability of alternative sites including the East Malvern RSL sub-branch, Holmesglen Tafe and Chadstone shopping centre, or Caulfield Racecourse in partnership with neighbours Glen Eira Council.

A group including stakeholders and councillors will be formed to assess the consultant’s findings.
The council will also suspend progress on the masterplan until a decision is reached in the Supreme Court case, which is likely by the end of March.

“This is not about whether we need netball courts … it’s about where to put them and build them as quickly as possible, and deliver the best possible outcome for the residents of Stonnington,” Cr Lew said.

Councillors Jami Klisaris and Matthew Kose, who support the stadium being built at the park, both felt the report would be useful to identify future sites for other netball and sports facilities.

Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston welcomed the council’s decision.
“Residents rights should need never be pitted against sporting users, and vice versa,” he said.

“It (the decision) says we are going to look at a wider set of criteria that was ruled out before, and it is economically responsible post-COVID.

“This is a fantastic decision by council and it shows a new style of leadership.”

The stadium was the subject of a recent Nazi parody video posted on YouTube, mocking opponents and depicting Mr Hurlston as Adolf Hitler.

The council and Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich both condemned the video, with Dr Abramovich labelling it “cruel and cynical politics at its worst”.

An old promotional video for the council’s Prahran Square project, containing comments from former councillors and the council’s logo, is also on the YouTube user’s account.

Following questioning by Cr Lew, chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said she had commenced an investigation into how the video was obtained and uploaded.

The consultant’s report is expected by April, with the council looking to award the stadium builder contract by June.