Cancelled Elsternwick Park project costs ratepayers $280,000, leaves kids without change rooms

The sudden change of heart on an Elsternwick Park revamp has stumped cricketers and left ratepayers with a big bill.

A map showing the Elsternwick Park oval due for an upgrade. Image: Bayside Council

The shock scrapping of a sportsground upgrade has cost Bayside ratepayers about $280,000 and devastated junior cricketers.

Bayside Council had agreed to revamp Elsternwick Park Oval 4, with new turf, change rooms, toilets and lighting.

However, despite contracts being signed and a start date set, the project was dumped by the new council at its first meeting late last year.

The cost of the move has now been revealed after former mayor Felicity Frederico asked the council how much it spent on the cancelled project.

Current mayor Laurence Evans said the decision had a price tag of $276,797.88.

Ms Frederico said the result was a “blatant misuse of ratepayers money” and a lost opportunity.

“This decision means that the oval remains substandard, usage is limited to daylight hours, and girls will have to continue to walk 600 metres to the nearest toilet and continue to change behind trees.”

Oval 4 has been used by junior cricketers for generations.

Elsternwick Cricket Club President John Dunnachie said the club had been looking forward to being able to offer juniors and parents the shelter and security of change rooms and toilets.

“At the moment the kids have to use a public loo which is about 300m away and out of the line of sight.

“It’s really not safe.”

He said there was no warning the council was about to change its mind.

“It was done by stealth,” he said.

A notice of motion for a December 17 meeting was proposed by Cr Hanna El Mouallem to ditch the pavilion, permanent access road and sportsground lighting but continue with the plan to upgrade oval 4.

However, at the meeting Cr El Mouallem asked for the entire project to be dropped.

He said the project was a hot topic during the election campaign and locals near the park did not want it to proceed.

Cr El Mouallem also said community demand for passive recreation areas was high during the pandemic, and it was important to maintain as many open spaces as possible.

Mr Dunnachie said sports clubs were being “squeezed out by dog walkers”.

“There’s room for everyone – sportsgrounds are not used 24/7 for sport.”