Public outrage over Boroondara Council plan for fake grass at Dorothy Laver Reserve
Sports clubs and residents fear they will lose access to a popular Glen Iris oval under a multimillion-dollar plan to transform the surface into fake grass, with nearly 1300 people lobbying against the move.
Inner East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sports clubs and residents fear they will lose access to a popular Glen Iris oval under a multimillion-dollar plan to transform the surface into fake grass, with nearly 1300 people lobbying against the move.
About 16,000 sq m of Dorothy Laver Reserve is set to be converted into fake grass.
Booroondara Council has proposed a synthetic surface for the reserve and would provide one senior, one junior and two under 6-7 MiniRoos soccer fields. A cricket pitch would also be overlaid across the soccer fields.
But the community is in uproar over the $4.5 million project, with almost 1300 signatures on an online petition calling for the Glen Iris reserve to remain untouched.
Windsor Park receives an overhaul as turf wicket scrapped for synthetic pitch
Synthetic turf added to Cromer Park signalling move away from golf course conversion
Environmentalists hope Mosman Council will backflip on synthetic turf support
There were also 701 comments opposing the proposal in response to a council survey in July.
Resident Catherine Diggins said the concerns of the public had fallen on deaf ears.
“There has been no transparency and it (the proposal) has been rushed,” she said.
“There is still no environmental impact study — the traffic congestion and devastation to peace of the community as well as the diverse use of the park will be a nightmare if this goes through.”
Camberwell Lacrosse Club (CLC), a tenant at the ground for 35 years, submitted a 50-page document to the council outlining their concerns.
It said their club would be “most affected” by the council’s proposal due to the aim of the new ground to be a “year-round soccer focused facility”.
There was no mention in the proposal of the club’s needs, the submission stated.
But Boroondara Mayor Jane Addis said the council had analysed the training and playing needs of Camberwell Lacrosse Club “closely”.
“Under the proposal, CLC would consolidate its training and matches at Eric Raven Reserve,” she said.
“Council recognises this is not CLC’s preferred outcome, however, should the proposal proceed, council will continue to work with the club.”
Cr Addis also assured the public they would still have access to the park.
“The current proposal would see the facility being used by a number of Boroondara soccer clubs,” she said.
“It would also be made available to the public when it is not being used for organised sport.”
The community consultation period for the project is closed and the council is currently reviewing the “significant” number of responses.
A final decision will be made at a council meeting on December 10.
MORE NEWS
Kew Boulevard tack dropper returns, cyclists fear for their safety
Brighton’s Wild Holly Cakes fined for rat, moth and bug infestation
Monash University student Ye Zhao has rape sentence slashed after appeal
‘White Australia’ fundraiser raises $27k in just eight days
A crowd-funding page created by a controversial neo-Nazi figure has raised more than $27,000 to help “create a home for white people in Australia”.
Pictures: Victorian preppies start their first day of school
About 70,000 Victorian grade prep students have started their first year of school this week. Check back to see all the photos from primary schools across the state.