By Matthew Sims
A split decision to vote down a rescission motion against Maribyrnong council’s approval of the McIvor Reserve Master Plan including a six-court sports stadium was met with a mixture of applause and booing from the public gallery.
During its ordinary meeting on Tuesday, April 19, councillors Bernadette Thomas, Jorge Jorquera and Simon Crawford moved a notice of rescission motion.
The vote was lost four votes to three, with Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter and councillors Michael Clarke, Anthony Tran and Cuc Lam voting against the motion.
As part of the original motion passed on Wednesday, March 29, the council was authorised to start schematic design, necessary site planning and due diligence, as well as to advocate for state and federal funding to support the plan implementation.
As outlined in the plan, the indoor sports facility would cover about 6500 square metres or four percent of the 18.5 hectare reserve.
The approved master plan included a number of changes from the original draft plan, including the number of trees to be removed being reduced from 163 to 114 and an additional 6000 square metres of open space to be redesignated as an off lead dog area.
Cr Thomas said she hoped rescinding the motion would give the council time to reconsider the placement and size of the proposed sports stadium as part of the master plan.
“Playing sport is valuable,” she said.
“So is having outdoor unstructured open space.
“In this instance, I think the placement of an indoor stadium is a poor outcome in the position that it’s been proposed.”
Cr Jorquera said there was a generational need for green space.
“I think this is very much a question of government priorities,” he said.
“I would really like to implore the community to join forces…and put pressure on the state government to provide what we merit, both green space and the grassroots facilities that young people in particular need in the city of Maribyrnong.”
Cr Crawford said he hoped having the original motion rescinded would allow the council to find another option for the stadium’s placement and design.
“We’re certainly committed to creating more indoor facilities for indoor sports,” he said.
Cr Clarke said that the moving the proposed stadium to the southern end of McIvor Reserve would create a “living nightmare” for nearby residents and would be “putting out fire with gasoline”.
“If we lose the (Yarraville Glory) soccer club car park, we have hundreds of vehicles that will be scrambling for space,” he said.
“That particularly precinct will be overflowing with cars.”
Cr Carter said building the stadium on the southern side was deemed to be a poor outcome. 00
“The southern option was presented to councillors,” she said.
“This has not been a process that has come about quickly.
“I think the standing resolution that we have will provide a legacy project and one that we will all be incredibly proud of in the years to come.”
Cr Carter said she believed having the original motion rescinded had set a “reckless precedent”.
“I think it flies in the face of the team that we have,” she said.
Applause and impassioned cries from the public gallery came from the gallery during the debate, with cries of “what a disgrace” and “shame on you” among the remarks made after the final vote.
Details: www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/mcivor
