By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
FOR more than 10 years the Tooradin Tennis and Cricket clubs have been without basic facilities, but can now look forward to a new era.
The Casey Council has set aside around $600,000 to upgrade Rutter Park, $100,000 for the design of the tennis club and a further $600,000 for the build, according to Casey Councillor Geoff Ablett.
“While we design the tennis clubrooms, we will be working with the club to put in temporary toilets and showers,” Cr Ablett said.
No toilets, showers or clubrooms have been available to patrons and tennis and cricket players who have had to use restrooms of the Tooradin Sports Club or football clubs.
Tennis club treasurer Cheryl Eaton said the club had lost families to Clyde, Pearcedale and Cranbourne tennis clubs because of lack of facilities.
“We’ve had a few parents who have come to join up with their kids, and they’ve left because there are no facilities; it’s too cold to watch your kids in the winter, there’s no place to socialise and they don’t want to join up,” Ms Eaton said.
New tennis courts were built at the site 10 years ago, and Ms Eaton said they were lucky Gendore Tractors and Machinery donated the timber log shed they’ve used over the years.
“We are so grateful for it, but it is basically a dog box, there’s no atmosphere- we have a microwave, fridge, a stack of chairs and some equipment in it, and we just hope it doesn’t rain,” she said.
With around 40 members, Ms Eaton hopes the new facilities attract greater number of members.
“Once it’s built, we can begin to build our club, grow our member base and become a nice social place because the area is growing- the response from the club after the announcement was just relief,” she said.
Cr Ablett said the Casey Council voted unanimously toward the Tooradin upgrades.
“The tennis club is definitely a priority and it’s in this year’s budget,” he said.
Former cricket club president and driving force behind the upgrades, Ricky Holland said it was nice to be finally recognised.
“We seem to get neglected even though we’ve been an established community for more than 100 years, driving through Narre Warren you wouldn’t think Tooradin was part of the same council,” Mr Holland said.
After two years of sustained pressure, lobbying and meetings, Mr Holland said, “Even though the community response was very positive after so many let downs, some people won’t believe it until things start rising up out of the ground,”
he said.
The council has proposed a gravel car park for 50 spaces, a pavilion to accommodate competition and training activities for AFL and cricket, an oval upgrade including irrigation, installation of floodlights for night games and training and cricket nets as part of the Rutter Park Recreation Reserve Masterplan.
