By Laura Michell
A Yarraville resident is calling on Maribyrnong council to revisit a proposal to build an indoor sports stadium at McIvor Reserve.
Council is canvassing community views about potentially building a stadium as part of proposed upgrades to the reserve.
According to council’s 2018 Indoor Stadium Strategy, up to a dozen new indoor sports courts need to be built to meet growing demand across the municipality.
Council held two community information sessions last week, to garner feedback about the community uses McIvor Reserve, what changes it would like to see, and views about the addition of an indoor stadium.
Miles Gilbert, who attended a community information session last Thursday, said that the majority of people in attendance appeared to be opposed to a stadium being built at the park.
He said that while he understands there is a need for more indoor sports courts in Maribyrnong, he does not believe the council should construct a stadium on green space.
“Why does council have to build it on a park?” he said.
“They need to revisit the question of whether this is the right way to bring a stadium about.
“A stadium does not need to be located on green space.”
Mr Gilbert said McIvor Reserve was “almost always busy”, with people using it to play sports, work out, walk their dogs and ride bicycles.
“One of the aspects of the park is it has a sense of a sanctuary when you are in it. There are other parks that don’t offer that,” he said.
“Why do they have to diminish a green space when they can work out other way to [build an indoor sports facility]?”
Mr Gilbert said some people in the community have suggested the council consider housing the stadium in one of the vacant buildings across the municipality.
Council chief executive Celia Haddock said McIvor Reserve is one of the few locations in the municipality with enough space to accommodate an indoor sports facility “without impacting on continued use by sporting clubs and others who enjoy the space currently”.
“Council has not made any decisions – we are gauging community appetite for the ‘idea’,” she said.
The community can have its say on the proposed reserve upgrade and indoor stadium until Sunday, June 12. Details: www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/mcivor
