Junior cricketers turfed off ground to make way for private school
Young cricketers have been booted off a public reserve halfway through a match so a Brighton Grammar team can play, with Bayside Council admitting why it gave preference to the elite school.
Inner South
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A Brighton junior cricket side has been turfed off its home ground halfway through a match to accommodate a private school team.
And the City of Bayside said Brighton Grammar had been allocated Wilson Recreation Reserve for the next two Saturdays because the school contributed to an upgrade at the ground.
Brighton Cricket Club was stunned to learn on Monday that one of its Under 12 teams would have to make way for Brighton Grammar.
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The young Tonners started a match at the ground last Saturday against Parkdale and were due to finish it this Saturday.
Instead they have been moved to Petersen St in Hampton.
BCC officials are fuming over the shift, questioning why the junior team should be bumped from a community ground to accommodate the school.
Brighton Cricket Club is a long-term summer tenant of the reserve.
In an email to the South East Cricket Association on Monday, a Bayside Council recreation officer said the reserve would be unavailable on November 23 and 30.
“This is because the reserve has been booked by Brighton Grammar School who contributed an amount to update the facility,’’ she said.
“There may be more dates in Term 1 where the school requires use but I will let you know when I hear back. I do apologise for this oversight, the clashes have only just been brought to my attention.’’
An association official replied: “ Good to see Brighton Grammar paying their way for once.’’
Brighton president Bernard Mutimer has contacted local state MP James Newbury over the issue, saying the oval is on crown land and managed by the council and “should not be allocated to a private school over a community group … at the benefit of an elite private school and clearly to the detriment of the Brighton Cricket Club’’,
“As you know, the Brighton Cricket Club benefits kids of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. It would be a shame to demonstrate to the kids that the private school is being preferred over a community club,’’ Mutimer said.
“Despite the fact that Brighton Grammar School has contributed money to the facility, this is primarily of community benefit and we should not be displaced merely for the convenience of a privately run organisation.’’
Mr Newbury contacted the council this morning.
“The reserve is public land and should be available for the community and the public,’’ he told the Leader.
“No organisation should have priority or an arrangement that overrides public access.’’
Bayside Council environment, recreation and infrastructure director Steven White said Brighton Grammar had helped maintain the reserve by “investing in instant turf replacement in high use areas of the sportsground’’.
Mr White said the school had used the reserve for rugby and cricket outside of school hours for 10 years.
He said the school and junior club fixtures clashed on November 23 and 30.
“Brighton Cricket Club was allocated use of another Bayside sportsground – Peterson Reserve. Unfortunately there was a delay in notifying the cricket association of this clash in fixtures,” he said.
“No games were cancelled. Games were moved to another available location within the municipality, which is required from time to time.’’
He said the council was told today the school fixture for November 23 had now been cancelled.
Earlier this year the council approved a “community engagement plan’’ for the redevelopment of Brighton Recreation Centre and the neighbouring reserve.