Sandringham District Netball Association gets 12 outdoor courts to help solve space crisis

DESPERATELY needed new netball courts will be built in Bayside, but some say it’s not enough to keep up with skyrocketing participation in women’s sport.

Bayside netballers will finally get new courts. Picture: Paul Loughnan

DESPERATELY needed netball courts will be built in Bayside, but some fear it won’t be enough to cater for exploding growth and an ongoing space crisis.

Twelve outdoor courts will be built at the Sandringham Golf Driving Range in Wangara Rd by 2020, plus three indoor courts pending external funding.

It’s expected the outdoor courts will cost Bayside Council upwards of $11.3 million and $150,000 in annual operating costs.

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The council will also seek extra cash from the government for three indoor courts by 2020, and another indoor and three outdoor courts after that.

But calculations show an extra 11 courts are already needed to fit the 210 teams playing this year, leaving “not much room for growth”.

Netballers currently have to play shortened games, miss matches or leave the sport altogether due to cramped and run-down facilities at Thomas St, where more than 2500 Sandringham District Netball Association players train and play.

Concerned parents, players and coaches spoke out at the latest Bayside council meeting, calling for even more to be done to prioritise the growing sport.

They said the association has already hit participant numbers predicted for 2031, with more than 300 people joining in the last three years.

Poppy, Sophie, Emily, Georgia, Lauren and Karina are keen Bayside netballers. Picture: Paul Loughnan

President Shane Peters said the associated wanted more courts, greater input into design and more information on the feasibility and remediation work required on the new site.

“The SDNA has been extremely frustrated by the time wasted and incompetence through the lack of communication,” Mr Peters said.

Former Australian netball captain Kathryn Harby-Williams said local clubs were already turning several girls away because of inadequate facilities.

“It should be an embarrassment to the council because it certainly is for the community,” the Firbank Girls’ Grammar coach said.

Female sports advocate Felicity Frederico said while the new courts would help, they would not go far enough.

“The netball community is not really happy. The lease with the golf driving range operator is still in negotiation and the soil compaction and decontamination costs are still unknown, and are contributing to the cost blow out,” Ms Frederico said.

“The whole process has been drawn out.”

Councillors last month went against the officer’s recommendation to seek a further report, and opted to “get on with it” instead.

Cr Long moved an eleventh hour motion to “future proof the project” and build all 15 outdoor courts before 2020, but it was rejected.

The council is now seeking to break the existing lease with the driving range lessee and has budgeted for planning works to be carried out in 2018/19.