By VANESSA CHIRCOP
ALTONA City Soccer Club members descended on last week’s council meeting in full force to object to the council’s decision to ban them from training at Fell Reserve.
The council chambers were at complete capacity as the club’s members attempted to make it clear to the council that they were not happy with the decision.
As reported by Star previously, the council unanimously voted to prohibit the use of Fell Reserve for soccer training and games and proceed with the upgrade of Kim Reserve for Altona City Soccer Club.
Residents of the Noordenne Estate, which backs onto the reserve, welcomed the council’s decision.
Some of the residents claimed the noise coming from the reserve was unbearable, with cheering, yelling and exchanges of foul language.
However the soccer club members were up in arms over the decision, which was not on the council’s meeting agenda and passed under Urgent and Other Business.
The decision also quashed a report which was due to come back to the council with recommendations on whether the reserve should be used for training purposes.
The club members called for the council to rescind the motion and allow them to continue training as they have done for the past eight years, but due to a letter being sent to the club advising them of the decision, the motion was deemed ‘acted upon’ and therefore could not be rescinded under the local law.
Councillor Angela Altair said she was sympathetic to the members of the soccer club and apologised to them for the way the issue was handled.
Cr Altair said she was not aware of the consultative committee or the report which was due back to the council.
“I must admit I completely supported this on the basis that I assumed the ward councillor had consulted properly with all the local parties,” she said.
“In all conscience I feel that the poor people in this room have … not been treated fairly.
“It’s really disappointing that it has come to this, and we have to almost sneakily have a resolution … without proper consultation.”
Cr Hemphill said in recent times the council had seen a number of “Urgent and Other Business” motions come up “from left field” with “no discussion”.
“It’s just like regular ambushes – some of them are very technical and we’re asked to make a decision with absolutely no information.”
Cr Michael Raffoul said according to the local law they could not reverse their decision.
“However tonight, from seeing everyone here I think the council has to go away and look at alternative options, based on the great turn out,” he said.
“It’s not the end of it, just give us some time and we’ll reconsider.”
