Think of a rowdy sport and you’re unlikely to think of badminton, but a group of Vermont residents are opposing a new centre near their homes because, they say, it would increase noise, antisocial behaviour and could threaten children’s safety.
The claim that the sport is riddled with harmful behaviours has left regular badminton players and officials puzzled.
The large green shed is where Vermont Badminton Centre hopes to set up.Credit: Jason South
A community group, called SOS Rooks Rd, letterboxed properties in late June with a two-page flyer after a planning application was submitted to Whitehorse City Council to set up the badminton courts in an industrial shed that backs onto homes in Vermont.
The letter expresses concern about the potential negative impacts including increased noise levels and antisocial behaviours, such as graffiti and disruptive meet-ups, traffic congestion, smoking, littering, car pollution and decreased property values.
“Though sports can build our community … it can also bring in hazards and disruptions which do not belong in this community,” the letter said.
The founders of the planned Vermont Badminton Centre are renting the shed from Stairway Church, which operates from another building on the site.
The Vermont Badminton Centre founder, who asked to be named only as Eric, said he was perplexed by the community group’s claims.
“We take pride in this sport. The enthusiasts we know are friendly, positive, caring, and respectable,” he said.
If anything, he joked, the sport could be named “goodminton”.
The letter has equally baffled Badminton Victoria’s chief executive, Clint Proctor.
“Those comments are funny to read, to be honest,” he said.
Proctor had worked for the AFL until last year. “I couldn’t think of two more polar opposite sports,” he said.
Badminton, he said, was far from rowdy: for one, it wasn’t associated with alcohol.
“Our community is vibrant, respectful, fun and definitely safe.”
Tom Kou says there is growing demand for badminton courts in Melbourne.Credit: Jason South
Proctor added that the sport was very multicultural and most players had backgrounds from countries such as China, India and Indonesia.
He said there was rising demand for courts, particularly in Melbourne’s east and south-east.
“It’s incredibly popular,” Proctor said. “At MSAC [Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre], we have 12 courts, and they’re constantly full from 6am to 10pm.”
Tom Kou, 24, is a university student and keen badminton player. He works part-time at Mitcham Badminton, which has 12 courts and is a five-minute drive from the planned Vermont site.
Kou said the courts were full every evening, and he supported the proposal for a new centre.
“There is too much demand for the sport at the moment,” he said.
Kou said badminton was a positive hobby largely free of rebels, and he doubted noise would be a problem.
“Compared to other sports, we’re quite sensible, I’d say,” he said. “There’s not much graffiti going on around here.”
Stairway Church senior pastor Maurice Benington said the proposal for a badminton centre on the church’s land seemed like a harmless proposition.
He said there was ample parking on the property and he was bemused by the suggestion that badminton players were troublemakers.
SOS Rooks Rd organiser Joe, who did not wish to use his surname following recent criticism, acknowledged the claim of antisocial behaviours was extreme, but said that was a concern expressed by one resident.
He said the primary worry was unreasonable noise levels from game play, chatter and cars.
“Most sports centres don’t have homes on the boundary,” he said.
Joe said he had organised the group to support a friend who lived behind the proposed centre. There were now four home owners who were objecting.
“They have been living there peacefully for decades. I know there’s a lot of support for [the centre] but … residents will have to face these disturbances 24/7,” Joe said.
Another badminton official, who didn’t want to be named because he manages several centres, said he could understand anxiety from residents living behind the shed.
But he rejected the criticism of antisocial behaviour — “You won’t have ferals” — although he acknowledged noise could be a problem in a steel building without sound insulation.
Eric said the Vermont centre was still in the early stages of the planning process, and he hoped to be operating by 2025.
“We chose this location to offer residents – including children, parents, young adults and seniors – a healthy way to socialise face-to-face and stay active away from screens.”
The planning application will be open to submissions when it proceeds to a 14-day public advertising stage. If the proposed centre receives a minimum 20 objections, it will be referred to councillors for a decision.
A Whitehorse Council spokeswoman said she could not comment on an application still under consideration.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.