Brace for sports boom

Paul Dunlop
PLANS are afoot to dramatically increase sporting facilities throughout Cardinia Shire.
A recent study found the current space set aside for recreation would have to be tripled in the next 25 years to meet the needs of the fastgrowing population.
The study recommends the development of up to 14 new football and cricket ovals, more than 20 new soccer fields, 40 tennis courts and a host of other facilities.
Councillors received the results of the study, titled the Cardinia Growth Corridor Sports Strategy at a meeting on Monday.
They adopted the document as a framework for the future planning and development of sporting facilities in the growth corridor.
The strategy estimates that a total area of almost 90 hectares of land will be required to both develop and support the proposed facilities.
Council is likely to embark in the very near future on a substantial land acquisition program after it was told there is currently 35.3 hectares of land used for existing outdoor sports.
The strategy remains subject to council decisions on individual projects.
It was prepared in response to forecasts that the population in the PakenhamOfficerBeaconsfield area will rise to over 100,000 by 2030.
Councillors said the strategy illustrated the need to plan ahead. The total cost of the new facilities is expected to top $34 million.
Crs Doug Hamilton and Helen Ward led support for the strategy, saying the council was dutybound to provide for its community.
“This clearly indicates the need for more sporting facilities,” Cr Ward said.
“We are behind the eightball and trying to catch up. It will be an expensive exercise over the next number of years but it is something we can’t shy away from.”