By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
IT’S a case of “six and out’’ for North Dandenong Cricket Club seniors who have had their pitch pulled from under them.
Greater Dandenong council banned the club from using the Lois
Twohig Reserve lower oval at the end of last season following complaints
by neighbours about their roofs and backyards being peppered by cricket
balls for 20 years.
Stray balls regularly clear a six-metre-high perimeter fence intended to protect houses built 50 metres away from the synthetic pitch.
The council has extended the playing ban for the 2013-14 season
while it investigates whether to move the pitch or build a fence up to
20 metres high.
While there is debate between the club and residents over who was
there first, all agree it has taken too long to find a solution. The
council pledged a similar investigation 13 years ago following a meeting
between club members and neighbours – but nothing came of it.
Dandenong Cricket Club committee member Colin Riddiford said the
club made a submission in 2004 to widen the oval, shift a footpath and
move the pitch eastwards, but never heard back from the council.
Since then, the pitch has been dug up and relaid on the same site.
Mr Riddiford said that was a missed opportunity to at least shift the
pitch three metres east.
The club has been based at the reserve for 40 years. Next season,
its senior teams will use the upper oval and a ground at Lyndale
Secondary College; only its junior teams can play on the lower oval.
Mr Riddiford said the ban won’t stop social cricketers damaging
neighbours’ property, despite a sign prohibiting organised sport without
council permission.
Long-suffering neighbours Les and Suzi Harris whooped with glee
when told of the club ban but said they doubted if social cricketers
would pull up stumps.
Even over this winter, Mr Harris has collected a dozen balls hit into his yard.
He first complained 20 years ago about the “planning failure”
which allowed a cricket pitch and homes to be built so close. At a
meeting with the council and the club in 2000, he produced more than 70
balls that had landed in his yard.
The couple have diligently kept log books detailing the ball
invasions and damage, including a smashed car windscreen and roof leaks
due to cracked tiles.
A recent roof renovation cost Mr and Ms Harris $9000.
Following that, they told the council they would forward on to it any
bills for future repairs.
“That’s when the council decided to take action,’’ Ms Harris said.
Dandenong District Cricket Association secretary Ray Nicholls said
the cricket pitch would need to be moved at least 20 metres east, which
would require realigning an adjacent footpath and building a
water-retarding basin.
“We’ve been lucky to get away with playing seniors cricket on it
for so long,” he said. “Interestingly, the top oval seems to be the same
distance away from houses but there seem to have been no complaints.
“Hopefully something can be done about it but we’re not holding our breath.”
Dandenong council’s community services director, Mark Doubleday,
said even a 20-metre-high fence wouldn’t guarantee neighbours’would be
left in peace.
“It is unlikely that alterations of this nature will be able to be
implemented prior to the commencement of the coming summer cricket
season,” he said.
