An event marking the closure of RecWest Footscray will be held this Saturday before the indoor sports centre is demolished and a new one built in its place.
The event on September 13 is billed as a celebration of the long-time facility, with locals able to go inside and do a fitness class and shoot hoops on the basketball court one last time.
But rather than celebrating its history, one long-time tenant of RecWest is concerned about what its impending closure will mean for its future.
WestSide Roller Derby has been training three times a week at RecWest since 2011, but despite contacting more than 60 venues, the club is still without a temporary home to use while the new facility is built.
Vice-president Tara Kennaway said the club had managed to secure limited hours at RecWest Braybrook, Pennell Hall and at a roller derby club in Preston, but all came with significant drawbacks.
“The court we have been allocated at Braybrook is not big enough for a roller derby track and Pennell Hall is only sufficient space for a few beginner skaters to train at a time,” Ms Kennaway said.
“Preston is too far for many of our members who are predominantly in Maribyrnong and many who ride their bikes or rely on public transport to get to and from training.”
Even if these venues were more appropriate, none of them are available beyond the end of this year, leaving WestSide Roller Derby homeless for 2026 and up until December 2027 when the new RecWest is expected to open.
“We are very concerned about losing members let alone being able to grow our club and sport,” said Ms Kennaway, adding that the club already had to pause its learn to skate program, while its representative team currently has nowhere to train ahead of next year’s national championships in June.
The task of finding a replacement venue is made all the more difficult by the particular requirements needed for roller derby.
A roller derby track takes up roughly the size of a basketball court and much have a varnished wood or polished concrete surface suitable for skating on.
To host competitions, a space roughly twice the size of basketball court is required.
Ms Kennway said the club was counting on finding such a venue with enough hours available for next year.
In a statement, acting Maribyrnong mayor Bernadette Thomas said council had been working with RecWest operator YMCA to support WestSide Roller Derby and other tenants while the venue is reconstructed.
“Council and the YMCA are continuing to support the club as they look for a suitable venue for regular weeknight training,” Cr Thomas said.
