Narre Warren South P-12 College students Luke and Paul, Casey councillor Michael Farley and principal Ross Miller inspect the school’s dangerous playing surface.
By Callan Date
NEARLY 2000 students at Narre Warren South P-12 College are without a safe oval to play on.
College principal Ross Miller has highlighted the desperate situation as he struggles to accommodate the sporting and leisure needs of the school.
He said the state of the oval, which was uneven, rock-hard and divot-ridden, was of major concern to the school community.
“Our future is right now,” he said.
“We have about 1950 students here are they are in desperate need of somewhere to play.
“It is too dangerous for sports to take place on. We are unable to play any organised sports on the oval at all.”
Council officers have drawn up a master plan detailing a $3 million redevelopment of the college oval and surrounding council-owned land.
The plan includes the upgrade of the school oval, six new tennis courts, a soccer pitch, cricket nets and a changeroom pavilion.
However, there is no schedule for the implementation of this plan – something Mr Miller wants.
“We need a time line in place to implement the master plan,” he said.
“We would like to develop a joint use agreement with Casey Council for the oval.
“We want this to be a community field that is used by everyone.
“t’s not about blaming anyone for the problems. We aren’t pointing the finger at anyone. We just want this to be fixed.”
Casey councillors Michael Farley and Lorraine Wreford raised the matter at last week’s City of Casey Council meeting in the hope immediate funding would be made to fix the playing surface. Cr Farley said an urgent dressing of topsoil was needed to fix the problems on the oval and make it safe.
“We have 2000 people at risk everyday. I would hope that we are looking after these kids,” he said.
However, Casey officers said it would be very unwise to spend council money fixing other people’s land.
Councillors voted against allocating immediate funding for the oval, preferring to arrange a meeting between the college, council and the Department of Education regarding the proposed redevelopments.
