One of the oldest soccer clubs in the west is angered after Hobsons Bay council refused it permission to hold a five-minute fireworks display for its 50th anniversary celebration.
Altona City Soccer Club president Joe Tanti said the club wanted to throw a community party on March 21, with fireworks at 9pm after a twilight game with Hoppers Crossing.
He said a highly regarded fireworks company had been hired and had planned to do a letterbox drop notifying surrounding residents of the party at Kim Reserve.
“The council has refused the permit to have fireworks because they say they don’t allow fireworks on a reserve,” Tanti said.
“This is a club that has served the Altona community for 50 years, a place where kids have the chance to meet new friends and be part of Altona. This is a club that was started by one of the biggest names in Altona, Lou Nordenne, a man who turned Altona into what it is today … and the council has refused it.”
Tanti said a council officer who refused the permit had told him to “blow up a jumping castle”.
“It made me sick to the stomach.”
Hobsons Bay mayor Colleen Gates said the council wished the club a happy 50th anniversary but could not make an exception to allow fireworks on council land.
“For health and safety reasons, fireworks aren’t permitted on council land,” she said.
“This is something council applies consistently to all groups, all clubs and all organisations that lease or use council sites, including our reserves.
“We did try to explore ways to make this work.
“But with this being a private event and with the proposed firing site in such close proximity to both residents and wildlife, in the end we’ve decided it wouldn’t be appropriate,” Cr Gates said.
Late last year, Bunnings Warehouse, which is located near the soccer club, put on fireworks for the opening of its relocated Altona store.
Cr Gates said fireworks on private land were permitted on occasions, provided a permit was obtained from the Victorian WorkCover Authority and the display was carried out by licensed pyrotechnicians.
