Hannah Hammoud
Despite numerous plans to develop a sports precinct at Sydenham Park in Keilor North, Brimbank council has said it will no longer proceed with the project.
In 2023, the state government made an election commitment of $500,000 towards sports facilities at Sydenham Park.
While the cash boost was welcomed by council at the time, at the most recent meeting on March 19, council received the final report for the Sydenham Park sports feasibility study where it was recommended that council not proceed with the project.
Instead, council opted to negotiate with the state government to allow the $500,000 funding allocation to be put toward the development of existing facilities at Sydenham Park.
Reasons to withdraw from the project cited in the report included a ‘misalignment’ with council’s sports facility development plan, the negative impacts on native vegetation and cultural heritage, and the estimated poor value-high project cost which is not included in council’s 10 year capital works program or long-term financial plan.
A number of councillors raised concerns during the March 19 meeting that the funding allocation could be lost if council did not pursue the project, however it was reaffirmed that the funding is able to be allocated to another existing sports facility within Sydenham Park.
Councillor Bruce Lancashire moved the motion with an amendment detailing that council would progress negotiations with the state government for the allocation of $500,000 funding.
Council said it had received verbal confirmation – pending approval from the Community Sport Minister, that the $500,000 funding allocation can be put towards another existing sporting facility within Sydenham Park – with council earmarking the Keilor Public Golf Course, including the driving range, as the potential primary recipient of the funding.
“I think the $500,000 [funding]… I was concerned that it wasn’t clear that we were going to get that, or hold onto it. I think this recommendation just makes that clearer that we continue to work toward getting that $500,000,” Cr Lancashire said.
“I’m very mindful that the gestation period of Sydenham Park has been years in the making and we’ve gone through a whole lot of processes to end up now with the [Sydenham Park] masterplan.
“We’ve talked as councillors about a second 10 year plan and looking at moving forward on that. These are the sort of things that might well be needed in that longer-term strategy.”
The funding is able to be accessed within the term of the current state government.
