Funds provide sporting chance

– Glen Atwell
SPORTING clubs and reserves will reap the benefits of Casey Council’s multimillion-dollar investment in local infrastructure.
In the 2008-09 budget, Casey has committed $4.46 million to local sport, with projects ranging from new soccer fields to sustainable water initiatives.
Tennis, a sport with more than 18 clubs in Casey, was the big winner with $1.37 million committed to build a first-class tennis facility in Narre Warren South. The funding will provide six synthetic clay tennis courts, lights and a pavilion at a facility adjoining Narre Warren South P-12 College on Amberly Park Drive.
A car park and the necessary roadworks will also be completed.
Floodlighting will allow the tennis centre to be hired and used outside of school hours for training and competition.
The Amberly Park Drive sporting precinct will soon be home to several recreation fields, including cricket, soccer and Australian rules football.
Casey Fields was the other big-ticket sporting project, with $890,000 set aside to upgrade the Victorian Football League pavilion and seal the car park.
The council has approved the projects in the hope it will lure Melbourne Football Club to relocate its operations to the Cranbourne sports facility.
If Melbourne decides against relocating to Casey, the construction work is unlikely to proceed.
Endeavour United Soccer Club is also celebrating the release of the budget, with $200,000 committed to construct a second soccer pitch at Reema Reserve in Endeavour Hills.