By Ruza Zivkusic
WESTVALE Olympic Soccer Club’s only girls’ team will have to wait a little bit longer until Brimbank City Council redevelops the team’s change room during its next budget.
That was the promise five councillors voted for (three were against) during last week’s council meeting, assuring the many girls that were present at the meeting at Sassella Park in Deer Park that the redevelopment of the facilities would be set up as a “high priority” among the other things on the list awaiting the 2007-08 budget.
Despite a lengthy discussion that lasted up to half an hour and included a five-minute adjournment of the meeting, councillors rejected Cr Ken Capar’s alternative motion that suggested an endorsement of $80,000 for the redevelopment of the McKechnie Reserve Pavilion before the next budget.
Cr Troy Atanasovski, who worked closely with club president George Loulakis on bringing the matter before council and collection of 209 signatures for a petition late last year, put his motion.
It was supported by the majority of councillors, who said Cr Capar’s suggested $80,000 might not be enough to complete the redevelopment. They said the matter should wait until the next budget so the right sum of money could be put into the project.
“Westvale (Olympic) Soccer Club should not fear. I’m very sure and certain that the officers will be behind us on this project into the 07-08 budget,” Cr Atanasovski said.
Cr Anthony Abate, who voted for Cr Capar’s motion, described Cr Atanasovski offer as “wishy-washy”.
“The issue is quite simple tonight. If we want certainty … then go with Cr Capar’s recommendation. If we want wishy-washy with uncertainty, then go with Cr Atanasovski,” Cr Abate said.
But Mr Loulakis said he had no reason to disbelieve Cr Atanasovski and that another six to 12 months’ wait for the redevelopment of the facilities was “not going to kill the players”.
“I would have doubted very much that $80,000 would have been enough to complete this project,” Mr Loulakis said.
“We might have been in worse strike this time next year with the project. I have no reason for disbelieving Cr Atanasovski; in the past whatever he has stated to me was delivered,” he said.
