Police called to control 200 chanting protesters at Footscray Town Hall

Police had to “use force” on protesters and escort councillors out of a meeting that was cancelled after hundreds of people rallied against plans to turn part of a heritage-listed Footscray park into a new Melbourne Victory football complex.

About 20 police officers were called to control unruly protesters rallying against plans to turn a large part of heritage-listed Footscray Park into a new football complex.

A fire alarm was activated due to rain, after about 200 chanting people spilt out on to the steps of Footscray Town Hall last night in opposition to the council’s Footscray Park Masterplan.

The plan would see the park leased to Melbourne Victory soccer club for 20 years.

Environmental damage, a lack of consultation, and giving a public park to a private company are the main concerns of the newly formed Save Footscray Park group.

Melbourne Victory received $10 million in State Government funding to help build a women’s and youth academy in the park, as well as three soccer pitches, six change rooms and a 500-person grandstand.

Group leader Gemma Cafarella said everyone was there to stop the council handing over a heritage-listed park that “we all use and love to a company”.

“We can use that park for whatever we want whenever we want to regardless of who we are of how much money we have.

“The plan to hand it over to Melbourne Victory will see it in the hands of the second-richest sports team in Australia for a for-profit academy. What a disgrace,” she said.

“We are the silent majority of people who don’t want to join a sports team for exercise.”

Footscray Park protesters at last night’s meeting.

Ms Cafarella led the protesters through chants including “Shame, council, shame”, and “Hey council have a heart, let us keep Footscray Park”.

Ms Cafarella also called for the councillors to be ousted, and led the chant “Kick them out.”

The masterplan was not on the agenda for the meeting but those opposed to it were due to question councillors on the plan and lack of consultation.

Maribyrnong Mayor Martin Zakharov was hounded by protesters when he briefly showed up.

Protesters chanted in the foyer from about 6.30pm until firefighters showed up and police officers were forced to clear protesters.

Ms Cafarella said the protesters were not against soccer, but if Melbourne Victory wanted to construct an academy they should do “what most private companies have to do when they make an investment. they can buy a piece of land, they’re not having our park.”

Hundreds of people attended to protest the council’s plan for Footscray Park.

Melbourne Victory chief executive Trent Jacobs earlier told Leader the grounds would be “skewed towards passive and co-ordinated community use” rather than for football games and training.

“Our relationships with the local community are already quite strong, and there would be access for local schools and clubs throughout the week to run training sessions and play games there,” Mr Jacobs said.

Mr Jacobs also said the masterplan was not set in stone and there was time to make changes to appease objectors.

Mayor Martin Zakharov said he joined the protesters because he wanted to hear their issues. A few people asked him to speak but he was drowned out by chants.

“I was disappointed to find they got to the stage of organising chants. We’re happy to listen to them but it became a protest exercise based on incorrect information,” he said.

“They say half the open space in the park will be gone, which isn’t true. And that the big events like News Year’s Eve fireworks won’t be able to happen, which also isn’t true.”

Footscray Acting Senior Sergeant Travis Costelow was at the meeting and said it was not known what triggered the fire alarm, but it happened shortly after a couple of protesters attempted to storm a secure door.

“The secure door was opened to let a small group up to the chambers, a group of men then decided to charge at the doors, attempting to enter the chambers,” he said.

He said police had to “use force” to get them back and secure the door.

“The whole idea of this meeting was that it was an opportunity for concerned residents to be heard, and it is my belief that the majority of persons were there for legitimate reasons but unfortunately a few people acted in a disorderly manner.

“Obviously when the fire alarm went off the entire building then needed to be evacuated resulting in the entire council meeting being cancelled which is in no one’s best interests.”

Police also escorted councillors off the premises for their safety.