‘Something needs to be done’: Lilydale cricket, football clubs hit by ‘suspicious’ fire

A suburban sporting club in Melbourne’s outer east says enough is enough after it was hit with a “suspicious” blaze less than a month out from finals.

A fire ravaged the Lilydale Sports Oval grandstand on February 12. The blaze is being treated as suspicious. Picture: Lilydale CFA

A suburban sporting club in Melbourne’s outer east has been left reeling after a “suspicious” fire tore through its grandstand less than a month out from finals.

The CFA was called to a blaze at the Lilydale Sports Oval at 5.30am on February 12 – the home ground of Lilydale football and cricket clubs.

“Upon arrival, crews were faced with a fire that was well alight at the back of the seating area, with the flame height stretching above the roof,” the Lilydale CFA said in a social media post.

“Quick working firefighters made access through a locked gate and extinguished the fire, containing its spread to only one bay of seats.

“It’s unfortunate that both of our local footy and cricket clubs run by volunteers have been impacted by this fire. The exact cause is not yet known, but the fire is being treated as suspicious by local police.”

Lilydale Cricket Club competes in the Ringwood and District Association’s top grade and was set for home finals in early March.

But club president Steve Oxley said spectators would now be without shade while access to the cricket nets for training would also be impacted.

The damage deems the grandstand and cricket nets inaccessible ahead of the finals, Lilydale CC president Steve Oxley says. Picture: Lilydale CFA

“We’ve got cricket finals looming, we’re on top of the premier grade, Trollope Shield, which means we’ll host finals there and now we’ve got no grandstand to sit in,” Oxley said.

“It’s partially burnt, but that just means that the council are going to lock the whole thing off, so now no-one’s going to have any cover to sit under if it’s 36 (degrees) … in (our grade), we’ll play in 39-degree heat.

“And because it’s burnt where the nets are, we can’t train at the back (of the grandstand), because the council are going to send an inspector soon to see if the building’s deemed safe.”

Oxley said his club had repeatedly witnessed suspicious behaviour around the grandstand but concerns voiced to the local council and police had fallen silent.

“It’s been happening for years,” he said.

“The council have told the police that they won’t pay for the maintenance of the cameras, so we don’t have any cameras there.

“Something needs to be done – we’re not a babysitting group.

“We get parents driving up and dropping their kids off, and their kids jump in the grandstand – this is no kidding.

“It’s all locked off but they find a way to get in.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au