Labors plan for sport and recreation

Back to local politics.

Well tomorrow it will be three weeks to election day.

Without doubt one of the hottest issues in Brunswick has been the tensions between council and sporting clubs, especially over the Brunswick Structure Plan. One of the reasons I am running is because I want to help sporting clubs get the partnerships they need with Moreland Council to improve facilities, improve the programs they offer to members and improve their community presence.

Here is Labor's sport and recreation policy for the 2008-2012 council.

Sport & Recreation

Labor in Moreland believes that increased participation by citizens in sporting activities builds a healthier and more active community.

A Labor Council will:

• continue to roll out a program of upgrading our many sporting pavilions on a needs and priority basis
• increase funding for sporting infrastructure and will actively seek grants funding from State and Federal Governments
• wherever possible ensure public land and public facilities are optimally utilised by encouraging multi use buildings and playing surfaces
• continue to support high level cricket, football, soccer and other sports as well as supporting grass roots clubs
• support a new year round indoor bowls and multi use facility in Glenroy
• implement the Moreland Recreation Plan to generate the best outcomes for local sporting clubs and encourage greater participation from our community. These plans will include how funds can be allocated to improve facilities, provide council assistance in club development and promotion and work to ensure that all people in Moreland know their closest sporting venues
• ensure that information about local sporting facilities is freely available
• ensure that a wide range of sports are promoted such as sport that is of interest to a broad cross section of the community; senior citizens, people with disabilities, women, different ethnic groups
• continue to support community based sport in Moreland through improvedfacilities, support for club development, and promotion of community sport
• encourage the development of sports specific forums to enable better sportsspecific dialogue with council (along the lines of the successful soccer based “football forum”)
• implement the Active Women In Moreland Strategy in 2009
• investigate ways to improve participation in passive recreation such as tai chi inparks and walking groups
• commence facility upgrades at:

• Mutton reserve in Fawkner, to better accommodate football and cricket including an undercover viewing area
• Cook Reserve in Glenroy and support for a new year round indoor bowls and multi use facility
• Kitchen upgrade at Campbell reserve in Coburg
• Holbrook reserve to better support women’s cricket and junior soccer
• Hosken Reserve to better support soccer and cricket
• Oak Park Central pavilion (adjoining Oak Park Pool) for football and cricket
• Upgrade of cricket nets at Gillon Oval to reach sub district standard
• Fawkner Secondary College, a synthetic pitch for soccer in partnership with the State Government