By Kath Gannaway
Sporting groups at the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve say they want a more direct voice in the proposed Master Plan development for the reserve.
The Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve Action Group (YJRRAG) representing the Football/Netball, Cricket, Women’s Football, Junior Netball, Bowling and Tennis clubs say their repeated requests to Yarra Ranges Council to have a single representative on the Master Plan Project Reference Group have been rejected.
The Council announced a community survey in May as part of the Master Plan process and said they had begun consultation with sport and community groups who use the reserve ahead of public pop-up sessions planned for late June and early July.
The reserve includes the grounds and facilities used by the YJRRAG clubs as well as the Yarra Centre, skate park, playground, Upper Yarra Museum and passive recreation areas.
YJRRAG member representing the Football/Netball Club, Sally Brennan, said the group wants someone at the coal face who can report back on what is happening at Council level throughout the process.
Her call was backed by representatives of each of the sporting clubs including Terry Elliott (Cricket Club) who said most of the clubs are unhappy with the Council’s approach to consultation.
“We have not had any input (into other projects); they just come along and submit plans,” he said.
“We’re wondering why there is this resistance; we’re all volunteers and want to have meaningful input, not just tick boxes on a survey form,” Georgia Strachan (Women’s Football Club) said.
O’Shannassy Ward Cr Jim Child however said the process was a community-wide process which already had community representation.
“To me there is already a strong community representative on that project reference group and that’s me” he said.
He said the YJRRAG did not represent all the bodies in the precinct.
“We are approaching each of the user groups and asking them to submit; we want to be able to sit down with them and say as a club, what are your concerns.
“If clubs want to form into an action group, I want it to be inclusive of every group on that precinct and at the moment it is not,” Cr Child said.
Cr Child encouraged community members to have a say on the future of the reserve.
To share ideas or feedback for the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve Master Plan, or to find dates of the public pop-ups, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay.
Submissions will close at 5pm on Friday, 6 July 2018.
