Lyndhurst MP Tim Holding is listening to Springvale Districts Football Club president Doug Pearce and his concerns over the use of the Springvale Cricket Club’s social rooms. Picture: Mike Richards.By Glen Atwell
THE Springvale Cricket Club social room has been described as a “white elephant” by the president of the Springvale Districts Football Club.
The two clubs share the Springvale Reserve, on Newcomen Road, but president of the Southern Football League division two club, Doug Pearce, said his club has limited access to the facility in the football season.
“It is a genuine white elephant, it is not being properly utilised during winter, yet when we use it, we have to pay,” he said.
Senior coach Tony Cooper said the football club is forced to use the back bar, a smaller room behind the canteen offering no view of the ground.
“The back bar has a nice atmosphere, but not when 150 people are invited to an event, especially when the huge room right next door is sitting there with the doors locked,” Mr Cooper said.
To unlock the function room after Districts home games, the club is forced to fork out $200, according to Mr Pearce.
For a night function, the fee doubles to $400.
“The problem is, the facility was built with public money, it should be accessible to everyone,” he said.
After voicing their concerns to MP Tim Holding, State MP for Lyndhurst and Victoria’s Police Minister, all the club wants is a fair go.
Mr Holding, who attended a sponsors’ lunch in the back bar on Saturday before the match against Caulfield, said he was looking into the matter.
“I am aware of the concerns and am seeking some more information on the matter, it is quite complex.
“It is a council issue, because council assets need to be used effectively all of the time,” Mr Holding said.
Tatiana Lunn, leisure planner from the City of Greater Dandenong, said the matter was being investigated.
“A letter has been forwarded to us from Mr Holding’s office,” said Ms Lunn.
“We’d certainly be looking to maximise the use of all our sporting facilities,” she said.
The $400 the football club has to pay to use the social room drains their finances before every night function.
“On our auction nights we are $400 behind before the night even starts. It makes things very difficult,” Mr Pearce said.
Having secured this year’s Division One SFL finals at Springvale Reserve, the Districts would make great use of the social room.
But after paying the league to host the finals, the club admits the club will struggle to pay for access to the facility that would otherwise sit stagnant in September.
Mr Pearce said the club would entice players to stay back after their finals matches.
“We will offer vouchers to players, hoping they will stay back and enjoy themselves,” he said.
Mr Cooper said the club is placed in a difficult situation.
“With the weather, you just don’t know how big the crowd is going to be. If we pay and the room only gets two hours of use, it becomes a problem,” he said.
The club has decided to pay the fee and hold a lunch for spectators on grand final day.
