Hannah Hammoud
Members of the Sunshine Park Tennis Club said the rug has been pulled out from under them, after Brimbank council withdrew funding for upgrades.
Council’s 2023-34 budget included a $12 million package for sports facility upgrades across the municipality, including JR Parsons Recreation Reserve tennis pavilion upgrade and a new JR Parsons football-cricket pavilion.
However the club has now been told upgrades will no longer go ahead, forcing it to launch an online petition imploring council to reinstate funding.
“Sunshine Park Tennis Club has been neglected and denied funding for years. The building was built in the 1960’s and is in a desperate need of an upgrade,” the petition reads.
“The Brimbank council’s decision to withdraw these upgrades after plans were finalised, has left many of us feeling disappointed and let down. The JR Parsons Recreation Reserve is more than just a sports ground – it’s where we come together as a community, where friendships are formed over friendly games of cricket or tennis.”
Sunshine Park Tennis Club president Craig Vaughan said the club was under the impression that construction would begin within the next two months and said plans had been finalised last year.
“We’ve had zero communication from council. The last we heard from them was in December, and at that stage it was all going ahead,” he said.
“Just last week we sent an email off to touch base and clarify the process with the works coming up and then we received a response that it is no longer going ahead – they said the plans were not finalised, but we dispute that, we were told the works were going ahead.”
Mr Vaughan said the club is struggling to accommodate roughly 120 members and 11 competition teams.
“The club rooms were built in the ’60s. We have no disabled toilet access, no kitchen, and a change room that is very outdated and run down,” he said.
“At the moment we are still in disbelief. Now we’re in this situation to try to get this money reallocated. Between us and the cricket club, we are in the same position.
“We’ve always been accepting that there’s a process in place and to wait your turn. Well we’ve been waiting our turn and we feel like we’ve done it patiently.
“We just want to know – how does it go from a guaranteed start time to not happening at all?”
Brimbank council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said council did not allocate money to the project in the 2024-25 draft budget due to the cumulative financial impacts of rate capping, and maintaining council’s large asset base.
“JR Parson’s Pavilions projects are still listed as the highest priority in council’s sport’s facility development plan for consideration in future council budgets,” Ms Dumble said.
“Money was allocated in the 2023-24 budget to complete design on Parsons Reserve Tennis Pavilion. The detailed design has continued and through this process the council has consulted with Sunshine Park Tennis Club. As per council process until the draft budget is released for public consultation council officers are not permitted to discuss any proposed budget changes.”
Ms Dumble said the Sunshine Park Tennis Club has an opportunity to provide feedback on the latest draft budget, and that the final adopted budget post consultation will determine what funding is provided.
Petition: shorturl.at/ewHIJ
