A stoush between Newport Power and Williamstown junior football clubs over the use of Langshaw Reserve in Altona North has come to an amicable end.
Both clubs were vying for use of the ground during the 2016 winter season.
Hobsons Bay council had originally suggested the Williamstown junior club use the reserve, while more than 550 people signed a petition to council calling for its use by Newport Power, which has 10 teams in the Western Region Football League.
The council last week voted to let Newport Power Junior Football Club use the reserve and to work with the Williamstown junior club to upgrade its facilities.
Newport Power club president said the decision was a good outcome for everyone.
“Williamstown Juniors are getting their rooms upgraded with whatever dealings they’re doing with the council, which is fantastic because they’re looking after their facilities in their region,” he said.
“We’ve got Langshaw for the weekend, which is fantastic, and also for Tuesday and Thursdays, which is a main training night for senior football, and integrating with a local similarly-minded community soccer club.”
‘“We never wanted Langshaw’
Williamstown Junior Football Club president Michael Furlong said his club was happy to relinquish Langshaw Reserve, which it never wanted in the first place.
“We never wanted Langshaw. It was never part of our program, but it was council’s solution to our needs,” he said.
“When it became evident that Newport needed it more than us, and speaking to Stephen Martyn, it didn’t make sense for us to go to Langshaw, but that’s what council was putting forward. I was comfortable to relinquish that as long as we were able to get some works done at our ground. It’s still very much a work in progress.”
Mayor Colleen Gates said the council was working closely with Williamstown Junior Football Club and Bayside College Williamstown, exploring options and costs for installation of a shade canopy on the front of the existing sports pavilion at Bayside College.
“We’re also looking at additional weather shelters in the reserve and portable change rooms and toilets.”
