Anger is boiling over among local sports clubs that may be moved or merged to make way for the West Gate road distributor.
Speculation abounds that Spotswood Football Club (SFC) may be relocated to Altona North Cricket Club (ANCC), a move both clubs vehemently oppose.
SFC president and Spotswood Sporting Club board member Alan Given said such a move would affect many more than 300 children.
“There’s actually the football club, the cricket club, a little bit of golf and the netball club, which all come under the heading of the Spotswood Sporting Club,” he said.
“Spotswood Cricket Club plays turf cricket and there’s no suitable turf wicket at the central Altona ground, so whether they intend to actually relocate them for a season … because, essentially, at the northern end of McLean Reserve, it’s going to become a construction zone.”
Mr Given wrote to Williamstown MP Wade Noonan last year and was informed his concerns had been forwarded to Roads Minister Luke Donnellan.
Mr Given said he was frustrated that he had not received a word from Mr Donnellan.
“It just shows absolute and utter contempt for the constituents, the people of Spotswood, and it’s like, ‘we will tell you what’s happening when we’re good and ready’,” he said.
“I just think that’s a terrible way to go about running a state government.”
Altona North Cricket Club president Greg Doyle, whose four senior teams train on the same grounds as the Western Jets, said he was taken aback at news that Spotswood players could be transferred to his club’s facilities.
He said there was no room at Crofts Reserve for more players: “100 per cent not”.
“We’ve been there since the ground was opened and we’re not planning on moving to let Spotswood in there, that’s for sure.
“We’d like to know if it’s gonna happen what it looks like, so we can start planning,” he said.
MP Wade Noonan said taking heavy trucks off residential streets in the inner-west was a priority of the West Gate Distributor project.
“But I understand that this project will have an impact on our community,” he said.
“I will be an active voice for affected residents, councils, sporting clubs and other groups in our community as more details of this project become available, including ensuring their views are heard at the highest levels of government.”
Mr Donnellan declined to comment on the sporting club’s plight despite several requests from Star Weekly.
