Royal Melbourne Golf Club weighs in on debate about Black Rock Primary School oval surface plans

DEBATE over what to do with the scrappy oval surface at Black Rock Primary School is heating up.

DEBATE over what to do with the scrappy oval surface at Black Rock Primary School is heating up.

More than 200 people met last week to discuss plans to replace grass with synthetic turf, with the help of a million dollar state government grant.

As part of the project the school could also lease the multi-sport pitch to clubs happy to pay for access to high-quality facilities, which are massively in demand in Bayside.

RELATED: Neighbours not hot on synthetic grass

Black Rock Community Oval Group member John said no consideration had been given to traffic and parking if more groups used the facility in the “already congested quiet residential streets”.

“Noise and powerful lights (for use until 10pm) would pose a public nuisance,” Mr Oliver said.

“The jury is still out on the risks that synthetic surface pose as a playing surface particularly to young children but if the scheme were to be implemented the damage to the wellbeing of the local area would be irreversible.”

Neighbours John Oliver and Kate Smith say synthetic turf and increased use will cause traffic and parking issues in the area. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He said neighbours had been buoyed by a Royal Melbourne Golf Club offer to lay a permanent hard-wearing natural grass at no cost to the school.

Black Rock Primary School principal Sam Tyndall said the RMCG offer had been unexpected.

“At a recent community forum representatives from RMGC publicly, and unexpectedly, announced the potential for the golf club to work in partnership with the school to lay natural turf,” he said.

“The school is working closely with RMGC to very carefully clarify and consider the ongoing terms of this very generous offer and determine if it can fulfil the needs of the school while still providing an outstanding and desperately needed training facility for local junior sporting and community groups, as outlined in a carefully developed master plan for the external spaces of the entire school.”

Bayside Council environment, recreation and infrastructure director, Steven White, said while the council had made a submission to the state government on behalf of the school, any decision was “the responsibility of Black Rock Primary School and the Department of Education.”