More than 200 children have been turned away from a Caroline Springs soccer club in the past two years because requests for upgraded training grounds have been knocked back by Melton council, the club says.
Westside Strikers Football Club has been training at the Brookside Recreation Reserve for the past four years, sharing the grounds with the nearby primary school, Australian Rules football clubs, cricket clubs and another soccer club.
With the club’s number of players growing to 400, president Sam Raniolo says it has outgrown the facilities and grounds, which are dotted with potholes, patchy grass and synthetic turf.
The club was advised Melton council would resurface the grounds, Mr Raniolo said, but it was later decided council’s maintenance officers would patch up the potholes weekly.
Melton community services acting manager Matthew Wilson said the council spent about $500,000 three years ago to extend the original building at the reserve, which included providing female-friendly “amenities”.
Mr Wilson said the council was investigating the possibility of using change facilities at the adjacent secondary school for sporting use.
… Sumeyya Ilanbey
