By Mikayla van Loon
Riddled with a decaying roof, water leakages and inadequate storage and facilities, Mooroolbark’s sporting clubs who call the Heights Reserve home have welcomed an early federal election pledge.
As the election looms, Liberal Casey MP Aaron Violi has made an early campaign pledge to award Mooroolbark Heights Reserve $4 million to upgrade the pavilion if the Coalition regains power.
This announcement, which came on Sunday 15 December, was well received by both the cricket and football clubs who have been using their own funds over the years to keep the building functional.
Mooroolbark Cricket Club co-president Briony Polkinghorne told Star Mail that from the exterior the club rooms may not look that run down but behind closed doors major problems are starting to appear.
The interior of the former toilet facilities, which were moved and funded by the clubs to provide male and female bathrooms, were demoed on Thursday 9 January in hopes of repurposing the room.
“They’ve gutted it today, and they’re going to put some plaster up and do it up a little bit, just so they can use it as a coaches office but again, we’re doing that, so then that seems to push us down the list (of importance),” Ms Polkinghorne said.
The room, however, is laden with gaping holes in the ceiling, exposed to the elements causing water damage and mould growth.
A similar thing is starting to occur in the current gymnasium, with water leaks damaging the roof.
Ms Polkinghorne said the changing rooms are becoming an issue too, not only with carpet that is lifting but the size is no longer adequate, especially with the growth in female participants.
“The change rooms, they are horrible. Our opposition will get changed outside before they get changed in there because they’re small and dirty,” she said.
Despite the cricket club not having “as many challenges on game day as the football club” coordinating the usage of the change rooms, Ms Polkinghorne said with umpires, players and the opposition, it can be a logistical nightmare, even with the help of portable rooms.
Having seen incredible growth in the cricket club especially, Ms Polkinghorne said it has brought with it a beautiful family atmosphere to training nights and playing days.
“We’ve gone from four senior men’s teams this year to five, plus we’ve got two two senior ladies teams and we’ve got nine junior teams. So we’re growing but where do you stop,” she said.
“The Cricket Club used to do dinner (on a Thursday) and they used to get maybe 30 people. Since the introduction of the women’s team, it’s now like 60 to 80 because the boys bring their partners. So it’s not just the on field women it’s created a family atmosphere across the whole club.”
With a self-funded extension of the club rooms some years ago, Ms Polkinghorne said that has helped cater to the growth both sporting clubs are seeing but it’s still not enough.
“Because of the growth within both clubs, on the social side of things, for dinners and whatnot, it’s starting to become inadequate.
“And then for retention and recruitment of players in football and cricket, we’ve probably got, I believe, one of the best grounds in the council but you drive in and our facilities look pretty ordinary compared to some other clubs.”
With surrounding and competing clubs like Kilsyth, Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park all boasting new facilities, Ms Polkinhorne said recruitment is not an even playing field.
“When you’re going into recruitment, it might sound materialistic, but the facilities play a part.”
The vision would be to build something similar to that of Kilsyth, catering to the change room needs, expanding the bar, kitchen, club room and storage facilities, and hopefully adding in the “nice to haves” like a fitted out gymnasium and icebath facility.
Ms Polkinghorne said it would also be nice to relocate the building slightly to make the car park more easily accessible and at the entrance to the building, as well as improving lighting for safety.
The clubs have also offered to make Mooroolbark Heights Reserve an emergency hub as one of the furthest grounds from the Dandenong Ranges and to cater to the broader community.
This is not the first time Mr Violi has pledged an amount to upgrade the Mooroolbark pavilion, having in last election promised $2.5 million if the Liberal’s were successful.
Since then Mr Violi said he had received over 2200 signatures on his petition to upgrade the pavilion.
“Currently at Mooroolbark, the change rooms are inadequate for the Mooroolbark Cricket Club, Mooroolbark Football Club and Mooroolbark Junior Football Club’s growing men’s and women’s teams. The facilities are outdated, overcrowded and lack the social space for our local clubs and community to enjoy,” he said.
“Mooroolbark clubs have seen exciting growth in women’s sport, but their facilities are holding them back.
“I am proud that an elected Liberal Government will commit $4 million towards an upgraded pavilion at Mooroolbark Heights to support women’s participation and allow all locals to continue enjoying the benefits of sport.”
The Coalition would have to be successful in the election, which is expected to be called before the end of May, for this funding to be granted.
