Possum poo, no showers after games: A long-promised Fitzroy footy fix-up faces a downgrade
Cost blowouts and delays have sparked a stoush over sports facilities at Fitzroy’s historic Brunswick Street Oval, with the council now looking to revise a promised upgrade that local clubs say is six years late.
“The facilities are outdated, and many players have to go home to have a shower after the games,” said Cass Blake, Fitzroy Football Club’s director of player wellbeing.
The Victorian government in 2018 allocated $6.5 million to build a permanent home to accommodate the football club and its junior counterpart, and the Edinburgh Cricket Club at the ground. Another $6.3 million was included in the 2022 budget after it was hit with delays.
But Yarra City Council now says the project is “significantly over budget” and construction has been unable to start. It is seeking to negotiate a new design to suit the existing funding.
The clubs have slammed the council’s management of the project, arguing it has been delayed for too long and work should get under way immediately, urging councillors to intervene before council elections in November.
They say they have put significant effort into successfully increasing female participation in their sports but women and girls still do not have the facilities needed to support this growth. Saturday marks the 10th anniversary celebration for women’s football at Fitzroy Football Club.
More than 1500 people play across the three clubs, including 600 juniors.
Blake said the absence of clubrooms made it difficult to run development and education programs.
“That’s not acceptable. We’re an inclusive club, but we need space to allow everyone to feel welcome,” she said.
“We’ve been promised proper clubrooms for six years. Council needs to hear their community’s concerns and get on with it.”
A Yarra City Council spokesperson said it, along with other councils, had been hit by supply chain issues and rising costs of materials and labour.
“In addition, the construction costs came in significantly over budget,” they said.
“As a result, we were unable to commence construction of Stage 1 of the new sports pavilion as planned in late 2023 and the original scope of the project was no longer feasible due to the significant increase in costs.
“Council is committed to delivering this project and is working with key stakeholders including sporting clubs and the Victorian government to establish a revised design.”
The clubs have endorsed a two-storey pavilion as their preferred build. Council consulted community about the design throughout 2022.
Fitzroy Football Club president David Leydon said they felt betrayed by the process.
“Council keeps putting up plans that they know will get rejected. It makes you wonder if they want to support their local clubs,” he said. “We need action before the election. Councillors are on notice.”
Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said the council had wasted six years on the project.
“Because of the council, women and girls have gone another six years without the facilities they need and deserve,” she said.
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