Much needed upgrades to a Wyndham Vale sporting ground described as an ‘old paddock covered in grass’ continue to wait, with Wyndham council set to return $400,000 of funding for the project to the state government.
The council received a $500,000 state government grant from the World Game Facilities Fund for upgrades to Wyndham Vale North Reserve precinct.
The grant was to assist in the construction of two senior and one junior soccer pitches, including irrigation, drainage and lighting.
The lighting has been upgraded and some work was done to the ground last year, but tenants Wyndham Football Club said the work has done little to improve the playing surface.
A council spokesperson said that a revised cost estimate placed the total project at $6 million, with council having to contribute $5.5 million.
The spokesperson confirmed council would return the remaining part of the funding to the state government.
“Council has already delivered the sports ground lighting – fulfilling the club’s top priority,” the spokesperson said.
“Council sought to redirect the $500,000 grant to assist in the construction of a modular pavilion – a multi-million-dollar project included in council’s capital works plan. The reallocation was not supported.
“Instead, Sport and Recreation Victoria supported a contribution of $100,000 from the grant on a pro-rata basis for the installation of the lighting.
“The remaining $400,000 grant will now be returned to the state government.”
Star Weekly understands council’s ability to deliver projects like this may be considered in future grant applications.
Wyndham Football Club president Trevor Bowen said it had been a nightmare for the club as the grounds were not up to standard.
“I would say half would be dire and sand,” he said.
“We’ve had motorbikes tear it up and community groups at all times of the day using the grounds. We can’t control them and tell them to stop using the ground.
“It’s got a lot of wear and tear. I’ve been at the club five years and it’s only had a small upgrade with council putting sand on it.
“We were back on the ground in three months. It needed 12 months.”
Bowen described the grounds as a paddock that was never set up probably as a sporting ground and said Football Victoria considers one of the grounds as not playable.
The other pitch has been downgraded, with training limited to certain parts of grounds.
The club believes that the conditions of the grounds have contributed to a number of serious injuries across all their grades.
Bowen said the club’s facilities also need upgrading, with the clubrooms nearly 40 years old and not female friendly.
With teams growing at the club, Bowen said the issues are only going to continue to grow.
“We want to improve the club and get things done,” he said.
Werribee MP John Lister said funding for the surface upgrade has been delivered and the community expects the project to be delivered.
“We are closely monitoring the progress of this project and expect the council to stop wasting time and start delivering this project they have been funded to provide for the local community,” he said.
“I will continue to fight for our community sports clubs to get the facilities they deserve.”
Council said its investment in the precinct has included $500,000 on the sportsground lighting upgrade across pitches one, two and three, $250,000 on the cricket net redevelopment, a multi-million allocation toward a pavilion and $100,000 for irrigation renewal across pitches one, two and three.
