Sandringham & District Netball Association: Players could be forced to cover new precinct costs
Bayside netballers and their families could be forced to pay a hefty player levy unless a new complex is built. But despite Netball Victoria deeming new courts a top priority, no funding has been earmarked for the project.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bayside netballers will be forced to “pay to play” unless a $9 million indoor court complex is built in Sandringham.
The Sandringham & District Netball Association claim the facility should be built at the same time and alongside Bayside Council’s $11.3 million Wangara Rd outdoor netball precinct.
With works expected to get underway next year, the precinct will replace the ageing outdoor netball courts at Thomas St, Hampton.
BAYSIDE TO GET NEW NETBALL PRECINCT
BLACK DEATH SLUDGE COULD DERAIL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The association will be responsible for covering rent and expenses at the Wangara Rd site.
But the association claims without the ability to bring in revenue by hiring out an indoor stadium it would be forced to pass costs onto its more than 2500 netballers with a player levy.
The cost of such a levy is yet to be determined.
The council supports the plan for a new mega netball complex but wants the state and federal government to commit funding.
The association also fears players of an all-abilities program would feel “isolated” as they would have to remain at the dilapidated Thomas St indoor court.
Association spokeswoman Kris Pierce said both situations could be avoided if money was allocated for a new indoor facility.
“This is unacceptable for a marginalised and vulnerable group as our whole aim of setting up the all-abilities program was for inclusiveness,” she said.
“Its also unacceptable our netballers will be the only players in the state that will have to pay extra just to have a facility other players take for granted.”
Ms Pierce said her organisation would ramp up efforts to secure the cash now that Sandringham was a marginal seat.
“This project needs all levels of government to lock arms and fund this facility in it’s totality,” she said.
Netball Victoria listed the indoor facility as a “priority” prior to the state election but only projects in Macedon Ranges and Frankston received funding.
MORE NEWS
’You stole joy’: Family of slain couple slams killer driver
One man deciding to “have an adventure” left a family with “so much heartache and pain” when he sped through a Caulfield South red light and collided with a couple’s car at almost 220km/h.
Young girl abused by sicko junky amid crime chaos in St Kilda
St Kilda traders and locals say crime and violence is the “worst they’ve ever seen” after a five-year-old was stroked and verbally harassed by a drug-affected man.