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Contaminated water closes Emil Madsen Reserve footy oval, Mount Eliza

Thousands of local athletes have been locked out of Australia's biggest junior football club after authorities discovered contaminated water at the Mornington Peninsula facility.

Mornington Peninsula Shire closed Emil Madsen Reserve in Mt Eliza on Saturday following an alert from South East Water about contaminated water at the sports arena.
Mornington Peninsula Shire closed Emil Madsen Reserve in Mt Eliza on Saturday following an alert from South East Water about contaminated water at the sports arena.

The home of Australia’s biggest junior football club has been shut by the local council over fears water at the Mornington Peninsula grounds is contaminated.

Mornington Peninsula Shire closed Emil Madsen Reserve in Mt Eliza on Saturday following an alert from South East Water about contaminated water at the sports arena.

“Do not drink or use the water in this area at this time,” the council posted to social media about 3pm on Saturday.

“South East Water teams are on site and investigating this issue.”

Mornington Peninsula council closed the sporting reserves on Saturday. Picture: Facebook.
Mornington Peninsula council closed the sporting reserves on Saturday. Picture: Facebook.

Emil Madsen Reserve is home to Mount Eliza Football Netball Club, Mount Eliza Junior Football Club and Mount Eliza Soccer Club.

It is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most popular sports arenas, used by thousands of people each week.

Last month, Mt Eliza FNC Senior Men Vs Pines FNC Senior Men played at Emil Madsen Reserve. Picture: Andrew Batsch
Last month, Mt Eliza FNC Senior Men Vs Pines FNC Senior Men played at Emil Madsen Reserve. Picture: Andrew Batsch

The senior women’s AFL team played at the grounds on Friday night while the senior men played away at Alexandra Park in Mornington on Saturday.

There were five soccer matches scheduled to be played at the Wooralla Dr reserve on Saturday and four on Sunday, including the senior women’s match.

Soccer club families were warned not to drink the water at the grounds at 8am on Saturday.

Mr Eliza Soccer Club junior and mini roos teams have been training off site during the week because of the condition of the pitches.

The ground remained unusable on Monday.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/contaminated-water-closes-emil-madsen-reserve-footy-oval-mount-eliza/news-story/408d49315bf43f805af4a500a387c5d6