By Alesha Capone
A suggestion to have a small sports hall constructed at the Jamieson Way Community Centre and Reserve in Point Cook has divided Wyndham’s councillors.
Cr Susan McIntyre put forward the idea at a recent meeting, when the council was discussing a $6.45 million draft master plan for the Jamieson Way facility.
The draft plan proposes adding a third kindergarten room at the centre, along with a separate multi-purpose sports pavilion, two new netball courts, an “eastern” car park and a new children’s playground.
The draft also recommends reducing the number of tennis courts at the centre from four to two.
Cr McIntyre suggested that the council include a “compact sports facility” in the draft masterplan, around the size of a basketball court.
Cr McIntyre said the facility could be used for dancing, performing arts, badminton and table tennis, much like a school hall.
She said that as Point Cook’s population has grown over the past 10 years, many residents have requested such a facility.
“There is a community need for this facility and the time to address it is now,” Cr McIntyre said.
She said building the sports facility would likely cost between $2 million to $4 million.
However, Cr Jennie Barrera said council officers had reported that building the small sports hall “did not stack up”.
Cr Josh Gilligan said he feared adding the small sports facility to Jamieson Way Community Centre could cost the council up to $13 million.
Cr Gilligan said that if the facility was included in the draft masterplan, it meant other areas of Wyndham also deserved to have such infrastructure built.
However, Cr McIntyre’s suggestion to include the small sports facility in the council plan was supported by the majority of Wyndham councillors.
The draft Jamieson Way Community Centre and Reserve Master Plan will be open for community feedback until September 23. Details: theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/
