VAFA seeks support for third oval at EP

As we move into an exciting time for all of our clubs and our umpiring group, we seek your support as follows.

Bayside City Council has called for a special meeting Wednesday night to decide the fate of the nine hectares at Elsternwick Park following the announcement of the golf course’s closure.

Board Member and former Mayor of Bayside, Felicity Frederico, penned a letter to clubs asking for support to make an impact in the campaign for the third oval in the Elsternwick Park precinct.

“Elsternwick Park North provides a rare opportunity to establish an additional oval in the south eastern corridor of the Melbourne metropolitan area,” Frederico said.

“Over the last 12 months collectively we have seen a 66% increase in the number of females playing sport in Bayside. In January this year, Bayside City Council officers sent a letter requesting that every junior sporting club, reduce the number of junior teams and cap registrations. There is clearly a growing demand for ovals, facilities and amenities that support females and juniors.”

“Elsternwick Park, which covers nearly 40 hectares of open space has had a rich history of organised sport since it was declared a Public Park in 1872. Elsternwick Cricket Club was established in 1901, the Elsternwick Amateur Football Club in 1908, and it has been headquarters of the Victorian Amateur Football Association since 1967. In the last 20 years eight ovals, and a pavilion have been removed from this precinct.”

While we appreciate many of our VAFA Clubs sit outside the Bayside LGA, we seek your support as part of the broader football community and community sport in general.

In short, we are seeking the backing of the VAFA Community to support what we all feel is a project of enormous importance to, not only the region but for AFL participation long-term.

“The Bayside sporting and broader communities need to come together with one loud voice and key message if we are to successfully convince decision makers on the merit of a third oval.”

VAFA members are asked to show their support of a third oval by registering to speak at Wednesday’s special meeting here: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/request-be-heard-council-meeting