March 1, 2024
12496497-CG22-21
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SIG N U P N O W!
Dragons ‘snubbed’ By Justin Flynn The City of Greater Geelong has backflipped on its plan to help fund the Bell Park Football/ Netball Club’s Hamlyn Park changeroom facilities and instead awarded the money to another club. During council’s meeting at Norlane’s Northern Aquatic Centre & Community Hub on Tuesday February 27, councillor Peter Murrihy presented a surprise motion to withdraw funding for female-friendly changerooms at Hamlyn Park, home of Bell Park Panthers, and reallocate it, plus an extra $550,000, to Newtown & Chilwell’s Elderslie Reserve. The move has left Dragons members shellshocked and questioning the fairness of council’s allocation process.
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We are witnessing something that is extremely dangerous -Anthony Aitken
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The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF) is a Victorian government competitive investment program, open to local government authorities in regional Victoria, to deliver new and upgraded community sports infrastructure. After reviewing the eligibility and assessment criteria of the grant guidelines, City officers recommended council award grants to Kardinia Aquatic Centre, Aldershot Reserve, Wallington Recreation Reserve and Hamlyn Park. Bell Park was to receive $700,000 of council money to improve its Hamlyn Park changeroom facilities for its 312 footy, cricket, netball and all-abilities female participants, but Elderslie Reserve would now receive the upgrades with the City increasing the funding to $1.25 million. It means council has resolved to apply for Victorian government funding and has pre-committed funding in its upcoming budget for the four projects, leaving Hamlyn Park unfunded and in limbo. Mr Murrihy, who coached Newtown & Chilwell’s senior men’s football side in 1998 and 1999, said Elderslie Reserve “was in dire need of work” and that the changerooms required “urgent attention”.
Bell Park juniors show their disappointment at council’s decision. Right: Bell Park Football/Netball Club president Jeff Jarvis. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 392148
“The project missed funding in a number of budgets,” he said at the meeting. “(female Australian Rules football) Numbers have dropped away because of the current facilities.” Councillor Melissa Cadwell said female
footballers “were not even showering” after games because of “significant concerns about their privacy and safety”. However, deputy mayor Anthony Aitken said “we are witnessing something that is extremely dangerous” and that it would be a
“cause of division in our community”. “It will turn Newtown against Bell Park and Bell Park against Newtown,” he said. ■ Continued: Page 3.
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