SEAHOLME residents are celebrating a win after Hobsons Bay Council unanimously voted to ban soccer training at Fell Reserve.
But Altona City Soccer Club is reeling over the decision, accusing the council of selling its soul and dirty politics.
The council last week resolved to proceed with the upgrade of Kim Reserve for the club’s use.
As previously reported by the Weekly, residents formed the Noordenne Estate Action Group (NEAG) to fight the proposed development of Fell Reserve for soccer as outlined in the council’s draft Altona Central Sports Precinct Plan.
More than 200 people signed a petition against the move.
However, more than 500 people signed a petition supporting the development of Fell Reserve for soccer.
Last week, residents who complained that soccer training was ruining their amenity were victorious, after a quick council vote settled the matter.
NEAG spokesman John Sagano said it was a very happy moment for residents. “I guess the worrying times are over. We certainly welcome each councillor’s decision and I can’t speak highly enough or happily enough with this decision.
“We have worked hard at it; it hasn’t been easy.
“We acted in a proper manner: we didn’t harass anybody, we didn’t act inappropriately with anyone, and we just left it to the fate of the councillors.”
Altona City Soccer Club was “totally shocked,” said facilities manager Robert Palmaricciotti.
“We were towards the end of a two-year consultative process which has been ignored and undermined and a decision made that was not even on the council meeting’s agenda,” he said.
“Yet we have been informed that a handful of the dissident residents were present at the meeting.
“This smells, and is, very dirty.”
He said the club had used the reserve for seven years without any complaints.
“We believe councillors don’t understand that the majority of local Noordenne estate residents are in favour of our continued use, let alone the 2000-strong community that we represent, of which there are at least a couple hundred in each council ward.
“Some councillors quite clearly have no interest in child obesity and the community and have sold their soul. Today, I am not proud to be Australian.”
