Bayside netballers drive home a big win with new court space on the cards

BAYSIDE’S 2500 netballers will soon have more room to shoot for goal, with a golf driving range identified as a preferred site for several new courts.

New sites have been identified to house Bayside’s 2500 netballers. Picture: Valeriu Campan

BAYSIDE netballers are a big leap closer to a new, bigger home.

The Sandringham Golf Driving Range in Wangara Road has been identified as the best choice in a review of 10 possible sites, to accommodate our 2500 netballers.

It followed an earlier Bayside Council resolution that expanding the current Thomas St facility was not feasible.

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Mayor Cr Alex del Porto said the preferred location would be assessed to establish site feasibility and probable costs.

“We are committed to meeting the needs of Bayside’s 2500 netballers as well as future growth in the sport,” he said.

“We will now conduct a feasibility study to establish if the preferred site can house a netball centre comprising 15 outdoor and three indoor courts to meet current and future needs.”

Hampton resident Felicity Frederico said the study won’t be finalised until April.

“I’m pleased council has committed to find a home for netball,” she said.

“What concerns me is the time frame and the operators (of the driving range) could come back say they’re not interested.”

Ms Frederico said female netball players were missing out because of quality courts.

“Each week 200 players are forced to stay home on Saturday because of a forced bye,” she said.

The Sandringham Golf Driving Range is currently leased until 2024.

Manager and part owner Ian Wood said he only learnt about the proposal “by accident”.

At their August 22 meeting the council agreed to start discussions with the current tenant about the netball proposal.

Mr Wood said he had spent $500,000 improving the range over the last 18 months.

“We don’t know what our view is,” he said.

“We are organising a meeting with council in the next few weeks.”

Former Sandringham Mayor Lesley Falloon OAM said she was approached in the early 1990s to improve facilities for women in sport.

Mrs Falloon said new outdoor and indoor courts would be terrific.

“It’s important that women have freedom of choice in what sport they played,” she said.

“I’m lucky I always played golf.”

Bayside Leader launched The Grass Ceiling campaign in August 2015, calling for a fair go for our sport-loving women and girls.