Melbourne clubs face loss of ovals due to level crossing removal work

They’ve been home to footy and cricket clubs for up to 130 years, but these Melbourne ovals could be lost to make way for level crossing removal work.

Surrey Park junior cricketers and footballers Harry Grant, Marco van der Pligt, Barnaby Smith, Zara Phan and Luke Macey at The Surrey Park oval in Box Hill Picture: David Geraghty

Sports clubs with up to 130 years of history fear they will be turfed off their park and face “extinction’’ to make way for State Government level crossing removal work.

A proposal to use Surrey Park in Box Hill and Canterbury Sports Ground as storage areas for construction equipment and parking for crossing removal work has outraged clubs and residents.

Level crossings in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert are being fast tracked for removal in 2023.

And the two parks, used by thousands of junior and senior footballers and cricketers, dog walkers, community members and for school sports, have been earmarked as potential staging areas.

Surrey Hills Cricket president Malcolm Campbell said it could be the death knell for clubs already on their knees after coronavirus wiped out their season last year.

“I’m thinking of this as an extinction event for our 131 year old sporting club,’’ he said.

“In all seriousness, we won’t exist if we lose our home ground and our rooms.’’

The government, in a statement, said: “no decisions have been made on the use of any parkland or sporting grounds as part of this project’’.

The clubare being kicked off their ground to make way to store equipment during a level crossing removal construction project. Picture: David Geraghty

But Mr Campbell said club presidents, who were not consulted about plans to potentially strip use of the ovals for up to three years, suspects the government is “making a grab for all of the land’’.

“Some of the potential uses are concreting it so they can use it as overflow carparking space or set down space for construction equipment and building materials for the duration of the project,’’ he said.

“There is also a chance they might use it for temporary storage of soil … they could do anything they like to the ground’’.

Canterbury Cobras Junior Football president Shaun La Motte said use of the ground for up to three years would be the end of his club, which has 22 teams and more than 1000 active members.

“It’s our home ground and we use it for social functions which keep this club afloat,’’ he said.
“It is not feasible for us to be accommodated elsewhere and without exaggeration this would be terminal for us – it would destroy our club.’’

Residents have written hundreds of letters to State MP’s, fearing much loved community facilities will be lost.

State Labor MP Paul Hamer refused to comment, referring an inquiry to Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan.

Ms Allan said no decision had been made “on the temporary use of any local sporting grounds and no decision will be made without full consultation with the sporting clubs”.

Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith said there were more suitable alternative sites and residents were “genuinely angry’’ the Canterbury oval could be lost.

“This park was the linchpin of the local community during the lockdown so it’s now got even more of an emotional connection to local families than it would have in the past,’’ he said.

“And the idea of it being turned into a car park during construction is unacceptable to local families.’’

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