We need your help to secure six new indoor courts at the Fitzroy Gasworks development!

Collingwood All Stars is a growing club. Our junior programs continue to attract more players, and we have expanded the elite senior program.  There is big unmet demand for more junior programs as well as for open age and masters competitions.  Increased requirements from basketball as well as other sports means that we are going to need a lot more court space.

The refurbished main court and two new competition-sized courts at Collingwood College will definitely provide short term relief, but the long term plan has always been for a multi-court stadium (six courts) on the former Gas and Fuel site bounded by Smith Street, Queens Parade and Alexandra Parade. Up until recently the extensive contamination has meant that it always seemed a long way off, but the current Victorian state government is now moving quickly.

The whole site has been rezoned, the clean up has begun, and a high-level master plan has been developed:

In the most recent plans, the indoor sports centre has been bundled in with a new integrated senior high school allocated to the north-west portion of the site (where the council depot is now).  This is a relatively small area, and current indications are that the school would take up a large part of the footprint.  So under this proposal, it appears the plan is to build three levels of double courts.

While a new and essential stadium on this site is a long-promised exciting and important opportunity for the club, it is going to take a lot of community and political resolve to get this fully funded and built, whatever the 6-court configuration may be.

Three ways you can help now

1. Complete the online survey

The State Government is currently running an online survey to get community feedback about how the proposed development should be used (although it omits to specifically mention the indoor sports centre).  We believe that it is important for our members to express their support for an indoor sports centre, and to register their concern about the need for more community indoor sports facilities.

The survey is very short and easy (mostly multiple choice). Complete the survey here (scroll down to the first question in the survey).

Please use question 2 and 3 to express your support.   

Points that you might like to consider:

• The club continues to grow with considerable unmet demand
• While the development at Collingwood College is very welcome it is only effectively two new courts - we need  a lot more and have very few compared to most Melbourne localities
• The courts will provide a new focal point for the community
• It will provide activity and vitality to the area outside of school hours
• Collingwood Basketball Association is very inclusive which this new facility will support and enhance
• It encourages participation in healthy activities
• It provides focus and purpose for young people and enhances their self-esteem
• It encourages young people to make healthy lifestyle choices
• The courts will provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to participate in indoor sports and activities - this will become more important as the population density in the area grows
• It will attract visitors and customers from out of town and interstate
• Anything about the club and why it is important to you

The survey ends on September 29 but please do it now so you don’t forget.

While you are at the survey site you might consider registering to follow the developments on facebook by clicking on the < + Follow > button at the top of the page.

2. Attend a Public Workshop on Monday or Tuesday next week

Development Victoria is conducting two public workshops early next week.  It would be wonderful if we could get some of our members to attend one or other of them. They have requested that you register first on FaceBook (the links are below).

Monday 10 September, 6pm - 7.30pm

North Fitzroy Library, 182/186 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North
Forum: Fitzroy Gasworks Precinct & Senior Secondary School

Tuesday 11 September, 5.30pm - 7pm

Fitzroy High School, Falconer Street, Fitzroy North
Forum: Fitzroy Gasworks Precinct & Senior Secondary School

3. Talk to a politician or councillor

State

The State Election is coming up in early November so we will can expect to see a lot more of the candidates around and about.  Our local member Richard Wynne (who is also the Planning Minister) has been strongly supportive of the Collingwood College redevelopment.  If you see him or any of his volunteers at street stalls or public events please acknowledge and thank him for this. But remind him that the Fitzroy Gasworks courts are important too, and that they’re also a commitment he has repeatedly made to the club and its members.  

Local

If you have any contact with councillors you should remind them that the City of Yarra needs to provide and support indoor sporting facilities.  Currently Yarra is one of the few very local government areas that does not have any indoor team sport facilities.

Please get involved - help make the Gasworks indoor sports facilities happen.

More information about the Development Victoria | Fitzroy Gasworks project is here.