The Brunswick Cricket Club and Brunswick Junior Football Club both use the AG Gillion oval. Both are frustrated by the state of the oval and facilities, both are frustrated at how little progress council have made despite all the submissions and meetings.
This winter, the oval was so bad it was unplayable. Kids couldn’t play footy on the oval.
Recent Labor election commitments are welcome. But this is not enough.
I have spoken with people involved in the football club and they are apologetic about the high cost of upgraded lighting, improved drainage and irrigation. Then I tell them that The new Wilson Avenue pocket park cost over $830,000 and they are shocked.
When basic and essential sporting facilities for kids are so badly run-down and neglected and its taking years to improve them, something is seriously wrong.
The baby boom in Brunswick is old news. What’s wrong with council planning that they can’t deliver basic infrastructure?
Council has so many policies and strategies it’s hard to count them all. There is even a two-volume tome on Sport and Physical Activity. All this paperwork counts for nothing for our kids playing footy and cricket.
The football club has been incredibly proactive about engaging with Council’s strategies and plans, but council is just not prioritising the needs of sporting clubs and their members.
- Moreland Sport & Physical Activity Strategy and the Club’s submission
- Moreland Allocation of Sporting Grounds & Pavillions Strategy and the Club’s response
- And a response to the Pavilion and Outdoor Sporting Infrastructure Capital Works Contributions Policy (unpublished)
Mel Yuan for Brunswick 
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