Model aircraft club could be forced out of home to make way for State Basketball Centre expansion

A WANTIRNA South model aircraft club could be forced of its home of 40 years to make way for the expansion of the State Basketball Centre.

Victorian Association of Radio Model Soaring club members could be forced out of their Wantirna South base to make way for the expansion of the State Basketball Centre.

A WANTIRNA South model aircraft club could be forced out of its home of 40 years to make way for the expansion of the State Basketball Centre.

The Victorian Association of Radio Model Soaring uses the land behind the Wantirna South basketball centre for its clubrooms and flying strip.

But Knox Council’s masterplan for the development of the stadium revealed four options were being considered and only one involved keeping the model aircraft club.

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Under three proposals, the club would be kicked out and the land turned into a carpark, basketball courts or soccer fields.

Members have raised fears that if they lose the site it could spell the end of the club because of the difficulty of finding a replacement block of land in Knox that was big enough and suitable for flying.

The group, which has 230 members aged from 9 to 90, will this year mark its 50th anniversary and its 40th year at the Wantirna South base.

Its arrangement with Knox Council involves the club paying a licensing fee to use the land for flying remote-controlled planes.

Treasurer Ross Armstrong said a big appeal of the club was its social aspect, with people meeting up for a chat and senior members passing on knowledge to juniors.

“For many of the older guys it’s the best thing in their life,” he said.

One of the model planes in action at The Victorian Association of Radio Model Soaring club.

Mr Armstrong said it would be “devastating” if they were forced out, but they were hopeful of lobbying the council to keep them where they are.

“The club is flourishing and we think it’s an important part of the community,” he said.

“We want to stay and we’ll have to do our best to demonstrate why we should stay.”

Fourteen-year-old member Joseph Roshier described the club as “like a home away from home” and said it had inspired him to build his own remote-controlled plane.

In a statement, Knox Mayor John Mortimore said the decision on developing the area would be based on “providing sporting facilities which best reflect the interests and needs of the community — both now and into the future”.

Cr Mortimore said the council would continue to work closely with all key stakeholders as planning progressed.

The club holds free glider training days for the public every second Sunday.