Wish list projects sought in budget

More than 140 people attended a special Baw Baw Shire Council meeting last week to voice their opinions on the 2023/24 draft budget.

Split into two sessions, the afternoon saw about 20 people attend, with another 120 people in the gallery on Wednesday night. Overall, 40 people presented verbal submissions.

A variety of “wish list” items were sought from fences, footpaths, lighting, shade sails and even weed control.

A cultural centre, bike and walking trails and EV vehicle charging stations also were proposed.

However, sporting facility upgrades were amongst the most popular requests.

A significant contingent from Warragul and District Netball Association led the charge in their uniform red jackets, calling for 20 shelters to be installed at the Burke St courts.

WDNA president Karen Romano told council the association, dating back to 1967, had seen significant growth in recent years, equating to some 2000 players, officials and parents.

“Only a week ago we had a significant event of rainfall during play,” Ms Romano said. “With over 500 people at the court within that one hour and only 25 metres square of shelter available, it was bedlam on site.”

She proposed to increase shelter on site four-fold to better facilities and create a “more comfortable environment for players and parents”.

The association could contribute up to 25 per cent of the projected cost and would support a two-phase project approach over consecutive years, she said.

A teenager’s wish to establish outdoor basketball courts for community use in Warragul was detailed.

“My son Sebastian is diagnosed with cancer and this was his wish to have some outdoor basketball courts,” his mother Dianna Alweyn said.

“To not have any full courts within the shire for youth and families to utilise without the cost is tough for families,” she said.

Ms Alweyn said youth wanting to shoot hoops had limited options, with school courts now largely off limits and fenced off.

The court’s location in the Burke St sporting precinct would help create a central safe space for youth to come together, reconnect and supporting each other, Ms Alweyn said.

“When it’s easy for kids to access such free activity spaces, they tend to be more active and content socially,” she added.

Two cricket clubs made submissions, Trafalgar and Western Park.

Trafalgar secretary Liam Durkin said a proposed second oval would alleviate foot traffic on the main oval and benefit the football and cricket clubs as well as the wider community.

“Hopefully we can see this project, this long awaited project I might add, come to fruition,” Mr Durkin said.

Western Park senior coach Sam Batson called for a cricket net upgrade to be added to the Western Park precinct masterplan.

Having “degraded significantly” in the past 16 years, Mr Batson said “the current facilities just aren’t up to scratch” to cater for the club’s 123 players.

Mr Batson said the proposal was for initial works to gain masterplan inclusion, with the club willing to contribute $25,000.

A lighting upgrade also was sought at Western Park to enable football teams - particularly female teams - to play under lights.

Due to heavy venue use, Nick Gooden of Warragul Industrials Football Club said its premier women’s team was forced to fixture night games.

He said night viewing was “almost impossible” and, if raining, games could be forfeited due to sight and player safety issues.

Due to sponsorship, Mr Gooden said the $200,000 project could be delivered for about $60,000 and requested council contribute 50 per cent.

“With VFLW licences becoming available soon, this project would go a long way to helping us with that cause,” he added.

Ellinbank Football Netball Club made two submissions, calling for upgrades to protect its football and netball surfaces as well as improved netball changerooms.

This included a lighting and shelter upgrade at its oval and retaining wall works to stop mud seeping onto the netball courts.

An upgrade also was sought by Drouin Junior Football Club for the Bellbird Park west pavilion.

Warragul Gymnastics Club sought a fence for its carpark and Longwarry Football Club requested playground works.