Spring Valley Park basketball proposal deemed feasible

A PROPOSAL to build a basketball pad near the Great Ocean Views estate in Torquay is heading downtown, with the Surf Coast Shire declaring the project feasible and putting it up for possible budget consideration.

Councillors received their quarterly update on the shire’s Community Project Development Program at their December meeting.

The council resolved to refer the Spring Valley Park Basketball Pad to the program in September.

Key drivers for the proposal included increasing interest in basketball but limited local facilities for casual practice, safety issues caused by the several basketball rings in the streets surrounding Spring Valley Park that often result in balls and children running onto the road, and an opportunity to add to the facilities already in place at the park.

A half-court basketball space with a netball ring was considered but rejected due to its placement and scale on the site, the impact on overland water flows, and the resulting cost estimate to attract funding deemed to be not feasible.

In their report to councillors, officers stated the pad aimed to provide a concrete basketball activity space at Spring Valley Park to service the residents of Great Ocean Views Estate and visitors to the park.

“An assessment of the level of community interest and support has determined the feasibility of this proposal at this site.”

As a result, the council resolved to refer the Spring Valley Park Basketball Pad proposal, which would have an estimated cost of $69,000 (not including GST) for consideration for the shire’s future project prioritisation, budget processes and grant opportunities alongside other eligible projects.

Speaking at the meeting, Cr Rose Hodge welcomed the idea of a basketball pad at Spring Valley Park. “This has been a terrific area for young people to congregate, and to have the ability to play basketball there is another reason for children and youth to visit there.”

At the same meeting, the council also voted to refer the Jan Juc Preschool Bike Shelter Shed proposal to the Community Project Development Program investigation phase; noted the Deans Marsh Streetscape proposal would be provided to the council at the next quarterly report in March 2023; and noted the draft Great Ocean Road Service Road Landscape Plan had been referred to the design phase of the existing Regional Bike Route – Great Ocean Road project.

Cr Gary Allen was the lone vote against the motion, which he said he did “reluctantly” as the projects were all worthy.

“But we have a situation where I think we’re building expectations and we don’t deliver.”

He said the facade for the Lorne Historical Society – submitted earlier to the Community Project Development Program – was not progressing despite the Lorne community raising $100,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.

“Now, I understand there’s difficulty in acquiring a builder. I understand there have been cost blowouts.

“The Lorne community went back to the proposal and they adjusted it to make alterations to the proposal, saving a further $20,000 with architectural support. The panels for stage two have been built. They’re sitting in the men’s shed and we’re not proceeding to complete a project.

“Why are we proceeding with further projects when we can’t even complete one that has been approved and has been started?”