By Mikayla van Loon
Despite fears of Mount Evelyn’s futsal hub turning into a McDonald’s, the owners want to reassure people this transition is not happening any time soon, nor will it be the end of the sport in the area.
When the proposal for a McDonald’s and childcare centre was put forward at the end of last year with a permit submission to Yarra Ranges Council, views of support and criticism were aired.
But for Pro Futsal director Steven Campbell and centre manager Tervel Atanasov, who took over the site in 2021, it was the questions of closure and potential loss of the stadium that were frequent.
“We’re not in a massive rush. So in working with the landlord and for us it’s going to be business as usual until the end of the winter season, which is around mid September but we’re actually quite confident that it will be extended to the end of the year,” Mr Campbell said.
“So we are here for at least three-quarters of 2024 and should be all the way to the end of 2024 and that gives us enough time to properly put a plan in place moving forward.”
When Mr Campbell and Mr Atanasov originally acquired the lease of the futsal stadium, there was talk of redeveloping the site into residential, so the news this time did not come as a surprise.
“When the new landlord bought it, we knew they would be developing at some stage, we just didn’t know when or what,” Mr Campbell said.
“It wasn’t a surprise, the timing of it was probably more difficult because we were half expecting that something would be put on the permit but again, we didn’t know what the outcome would be, if it was residential and commercial.”
With 110 teams signed up regularly throughout the two seasons, with people travelling mostly from a 30 minute radius but some from Pakenham and closer to Melbourne, that equates to 1200 people walking through the door.
“We’re definitely a hub. Not just a club, not just somewhere to play but actually where lots of people come in. Lots of clubs have formed here. Lots of people do their social nights for the week here,” Mr Atanasov said.
Over the three years Pro Futsal has been operating out of the centre, Mr Atanasov said there have been some challenges, like parking and crossing the road safely, so they’re understanding that for some this may remove some of those impacts.
“We’ve had a lot of big building in a small town so we’ve had a lot of, not issues but friction points over the years,” he said.
“Neighbours and parking and just the things that are associated with the building so we quite amicably always try and find a middle ground.”
Others, like No McDonald’s Mount Evelyn founder Amy Kidd, the increased traffic from a fast food outlet is just one reason for opposing the development.
“My partner and I moved to Mount Evelyn because we love the community vibe and quiet, leafy streets. The last thing we want is golden arches beaming through the night, increased traffic, and the smell of fries wafting over our back fence,” she said.
“The proposed location for the McDonald’s development makes absolutely no sense. It’s smack-bang in the middle of a residential area with no other shops around. And Lilydale McDonald’s is just seven minutes down the road.”
Ms Kidd said she does appreciate the need for more childcare services in the area and can support this use for the site.
“I’m very supportive of the proposal for a childcare centre to be built on Hereford Road. Mount Evelyn desperately needs more childcare services. But a fast-food restaurant has no place on this residential site.”
Although no plans are approved as yet, Mr Atanasov said Pro Futsal will look for other options with the local area to provide the futsal community a continued ability to play.
“We’re looking at a few things. Whether this building continues or not isn’t really up to us. But whether futsal continues is
“So we know we will be able to find a new venue hopefully and just get cracking and it might not be big and blue, or four courts, but it’ll still be fun.”
Looking at opportunities to partner with schools or community halls, Mr Campbell said they will consider every option to find the right one for the Yarra Ranges and broader futsal community.
