Call for action on stadium

By Callan Date
A CASEY councillor is demanding more be done to find a permanent home for the thriving Oatlanders-Outlaws Basketball Club.
Cr Rob Wilson has expressed his disappointment over the handling of the nomadic basketball club by the City of Casey.
He said the club had patiently waited for nearly five years for a stadium to be built, but was beginning to wonder if it would ever eventuate.
“Oatlanders Basketball Club, the largest in Casey and the Dandenong region, is still waiting for a two-court training facility,” Cr Wilson said.
He said the club had patiently waited for their facilities, while at the same time giving strong support to the establishment of new ovals for the Narre North Foxes and Narre North Cricket Club.
Cr Wilson said the City of Casey had set aside about $1 million for land acquisition, with the state and federal governments also committing to a large amount of funding for the stadium.
“Why is there no progress with this project.”
Another concern for the veteran councillor was the attempt to attract the Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields.
“A new two court basketball training facility for the Oatlanders must take a priority over any new elite sports that the Casey CEO (Mike Tyler) wants to butter up at Casey Fields,” he said.
The Oatlanders-Outlaws Basketball Club will be a major tenant of the proposed stadium.
The club has outgrown its existing facility with more than 450 players making up more than 60 teams currently competing.
Teams presently train all over the city including Eumemmerring College, Berwick Secondary College and Berwick Leisure Centre.
Casey manager of city living Richard Amon said the stadium had been planned to be built on the proposed secondary school site adjacent to Timbarra Primary School.
“This land is owned by the State Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD),” Mr Amon said.
“Council was originally intending to purchase land from DEECD for the project however, at the recent State Government election a secondary school was announced for the site.
“Council can not proceed with detailed planning for the project until DEECD commences a detailed master plan for the site.”
He said more than $3 million had been committed to the project by the three levels of government.
“Once more detailed designs and cost estimates are prepared, council will be in a position to consider further funding through its Capital Works Program,” he said.