By Michael Newhouse
WESTERN Suburbs Soccer Club will not be allowed to build a spectator rise along one side of its playing field, after Brimbank City Council ruled it would infringe on residents’ privacy.
Residents who back onto the Ralph St soccer field objected to the planned 0.6-metre-high mound on the grounds of privacy.
“The height of the mound would provide an opportunity for spectators to overlook the secluded private open space of adjoining residential properties,” the council’s report on the planning application said.
The mound was proposed to counter the problem of a natural slope away from the field, which the club said made it difficult for spectators to get a good view of games.
At last Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors agreed to a compromise which would allow the club to level off the ground to ensure all spectators could stand at the base height of the fence.
But two councillor’s associated with the soccer club caused a minor stir.
Lifelong club member Cr Sam David left the chamber and did not vote on the report before council after declaring an interest in the club.
Cr Costas Socratous – no longer a member of the club but whose daughter trains one of the club’s women’s teams – chose to stay in the chamber to vote, even after declaring an interest in the issue.
Last week he said he was well within his right to remain in the chamber.
“As far as I know I was allowed to vote and take part in the discussions,” Cr Socratous said after last week’s ccouncil meeting.
Cr Socratous is a former president and secretary of the Western Suburbs Soccer Club.
Cr David last week said it was Cr Socratous’s decision whether or not to participate in the vote.
Cr David said that he thought it was appropriate for him not to join in.
“I just wanted to make sure that I declared an interest and that I did the right thing by the local law,” Cr David said after the council meeting.
In the end the council voted to unanimously accept the revised planning proposal.
