Cash pitches in

By Tania Martin
HILLS soccer players are still grappling for pitch space despite an announcement of State Government funding for a seven-year strategic plans.
But the Sherbrooke Rangers Junior Soccer Club says the funding is a step in the right direction.
Minister for Sport and Recreation James Merlino announced that the State Government would spend $20,000 to help develop a seven-year action plan for soccer facilities in the neighbouring municipalities of Yarra Ranges, Cardinia and Casey.
Mr Merlino said it’s vital to get the strategy right so the sport remains a strong and integral part of local communities in years to come.
He said the funding would enable a consultant to work with the three councils, the Football Federation Victoria, Sports and Recreation Victoria and various other stakeholders to develop the plan.
Yarra Ranges deputy mayor Samantha Dunn said the funding was a step forward for soccer in the region.
Cr Dunn said she understands the frustrations of the soccer clubs because they need pitches now.
However she said the funding was a good starting point.
She said it was also good to see the State Government putting money into grass roots sports.
Mr Merlino said the issues facing clubs such as the Sherbrooke Ranges are the same right across the state.
“The problem is bigger than this region – there has just been an explosion of membership numbers everywhere,” he said.
He said the government is looking at the possibility of putting in several regional soccer facilities.
Mr Merlino said the regional facilities would have up to eight pitches in the one centre.
But he says this is a long-term plan and one of the aims of the seven-year strategy is to look at ways to improve pitches in places such as Monbulk and Menzies Creek in the short-term.
Mr Merlino says one way of improving the short-term problems of not having enough playing surfaces was to work with local schools to use their sporting grounds.
But Sherbrooke Ranges is a step ahead of the government and has already arranged to use the oval at Emerald Secondary College for this season.
Although the club is doing everything it can to find alternative pitch spaces, the club now has to close its doors to new members.
Club president Wayne Condors said although the funding was a welcome step forward, there needs to be some short-term solutions implemented as soon as possible. Mr Condors said the plans Mr Merlino was talking about could take up to 10 years or longer.
He said at this stage the club couldn’t take any on more players because it is already bursting at the seams.
“The sad thing this year is that we’ve had to turn kids away because our teams are full,” he said.
Mr Condor said Sherbrooke Rangers really needs some short-term results by October or November next year or it won’t be able to take on any more players.
He said the report is a step in the right direction but it was disappointing it has taken the government so long to take action.
The Sherbrooke Rangers is also speaking with the Federal Government about the shortage of pitch spaces.