Gembrook MP Brad Battin visited Chandler Reserve last week to talk with Emerald Football-Netball Club’s Steve Livermore, Karen Johns, Ross Macumber and Graham Steer about upgrades to their clubrooms. Picture: Russell Bennett
By Russell Bennett
EMERALD Football-Netball club needs a second storey for its Chandler Reserve clubrooms just to house all its members on training nights.
And the club is calling on local businesses to get behind its push for upgraded facilities by sending letters of support to Gembrook MP Brad Battin.
Club vice president Steve Livermore said the Belgrave Road base badly needed an upgrade.
“The facilities here haven’t changed since 1982,” he said.
“We’re not after money from local businesses but we do want their support.”
Mr Livermore said, if upgraded, the new clubrooms could also host meetings for local Landcare, Scouts, and other community groups.
He estimated the cost of adding a second story to the existing rooms would be about $500,000.
Co-vice president Ross Macumber said a second storey on the club rooms would include a meeting room, reception and entertainment areas and free up space down stairs for match-day activity.
“The club has seven teams based here,” Mr Livermore said.
“And we can’t hold functions here for all of them.
“There would be 60-80 people sitting down trying to have a meal and right now we just can’t do it.”
In a letter to local community groups and businesses, Mr Livermore said: “The building is far too small to host important fundraising functions, and even on a simple team selection night, people have to stand outside due to the cramped conditions.”
Emerald Cricket Club and Avonsleigh Tennis Club, too, calls Chandler Reserve home. The cricket club has a whopping 13 teams.
“We’ve got just about the worst facilities in the league,” Mr Livermore said.
“We’ve even got to hold our presentation nights elsewhere.”
He said upgraded facilities would help the club retain and boost its current playing stocks, which have six of its football and netball teams within reach of a premiership.
