By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The footy oval at Barry Simon reserve, Endeavour Hills certainly looks a picture.
With its new goalposts, light towers and electronic scoreboard, the immaculately-turfed home of the proud Endeavour Hills Falcons was recently selected to host junior level finals.
But look in the clubrooms and you’ll find the facilities are well off the pace with the times and the booming membership.
In a way, the Falcons are a victim of their own popularity – and an example of the ageing 30 to 40-year-old sports facilities in Casey’s north.
The compact change rooms were only built for two Mossgiel Park junior football sides about 30 years ago.
Now the club juggles a crammed seven-day timetable to squeeze in Auskick players and eight senior and junior, men’s and women’s sides – and their opponents – for training and game days.
Club seniors president Rex Ashenden says an extension is desperately required, so the canteen and social areas can be separated from the changerooms.
Home and away changing areas are separated by a mere sliding screen, and properly-segregated male and female change rooms are required.
There are other urgent upgrades:
* The inside male and female toilets – each with three shower cubicles – are too small for purpose;
* The disabled toilet – replete with a resident redback spider – has been effectively closed;
* The carpets are deeply stained in mud; and
* The canteen is in need of a second fire-escape exit.
A light tower which stood many years just inside the playing arena has recently been shifted to a safer place.
The club’s cause is championed by Casey ward councillors Rosalie Crestani and Milla Gilic, state MP Luke Donnellan and federal MP Anthony Byrne.
Mr Byrne said “sub-standard” facilities in Casey’s established northern suburbs shouldn’t be ignored, despite the demands of new estates.
“A lot of people live in these parts. They have entitlements,” Mr Byrne said.
“It’s not just local cricket and football clubs. There’s a shortage of meeting areas in general in the north of Casey.”
Cr Crestani welcomed Casey Council’s recent installation of goalposts and an electronic scoreboard, with a submission for a clubroom upgrade being considered for the upcoming 2017-’18 budget.
“This is an example of multiple locations where ageing facilities need to be upgraded. It’s 40 years down the track in some cases.
“In soccer, they are turning some children away. Different presidents are letting me know there’s waiting lists.”
She said the council – under a rate-capping regime – was “looking at all avenues” to secure state and federal capital works funding to keep up with demand.
“Social structures have changed, and the clubs and facilities have to change with the times to provide for everyone.”
