Soccer scores cash

By Russell Bennett and Casey Neill
THE federal Labor government hopes a $2 million promise for a regional soccer facility will give it the winning edge in La Trobe, with the marginal seat hanging in the balance ahead of Saturday’s election.
Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese announced late last week that if the Gillard government was returned at Saturday’s election it would provide $2 million to Yarra Ranges Council for its Monbulk Soccer Centre.
Some political commentators are predicting La Trobe will change hands at Saturday’s poll and may help the Government stave off heavy losses predicted in other states.
Liberal incumbent Jason Wood holds the marginal seat by just .5 of one per cent.
If the Coalition is elected Mr Wood has promised a $3.6 million bushfire early warning system, $3 million for fuel and weed reduction in the Dandenongs and $1.5 million for a new tourist information centre.
The new $7 million soccer facility will include two new synthetic pitches with lights, a new pavilion and extra car parking spaces with a new access road.
Monbulk Soccer Club and Sherbrooke Ranges Junior Soccer Club have been campaigning for more pitch spaces for more than five years. The State Government and Yarra Ranges Council last year spent $300,000 each on stage one of the upgrade, which included a new synthetic pitch.
Stage two is a regional soccer centre in Monbulk. The council acquired two blocks of land on Old Emerald Road for the project earlier this year.
La Trobe Labor candidate Laura Smyth said the announcement would secure the facilities for a much loved sport in the community. “Soccer has become an increasingly popular sporting activity over the last five years across all levels, ages and genders,” Ms Smyth said. “This has placed pressure on the Monbulk Soccer Club’s current facilities, with the playing surface becoming unsustainable.”
Yarra Ranges Council mayor Len Cox said the money pledged by Labor would be gratefully received.
“Soccer is rapidly growing everywhere, including Monbulk,” Cr Cox said.
“The council is in the process of buying more land in the area for more soccer pitches and this money will help significantly.”
“It’s great to see the (Labor) party taking such an interest in youth sport.”