Track on the go

By Tania Martin
MOUNT Evelyn’s long-awaited athletics track upgrade could soon be up and running, following a $206,000 cash injection.
Yarra Ranges Council has allocated the money as part of the 2010-11 draft budget under its $38 million capital works program.
It has also promised to spend a further 1.39 million in 2011-12.
Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said this was great news not just for Mount Evelyn athletes but for the region.
He said the cash would pay for stage one of the $5.4 million project.
The council approved stage one of the Morrison Reserve redevelopment in November last year which includes the construction of the track and field infrastructure, design work for the track, a pavilion and new car parking area.
Currently the track at Morrison Reserve is a grass surface and there is also a 100-metre synthetic strip but athletes say it’s a sub-standard track.
Nearby residents and upcoming athletes have been calling for improvements for more than 18 years.
Cr Heenan said the council had also applied for a $500,000 grant for the project.
But he said even without the extra cash, the project could go ahead.
“That funding would go directly towards stage two,” Cr Heenan said.
“It’s fantastic news for Mount Evelyn.”
Cr Heenan said it was also a win for the region with the opportunity for more than 68 schools to hold their athletics carnivals within the shire.
Currently 50 schools have to travel outside the municipality to either Knox or Croydon for their sports events.
“Hopefully in the future we can change that,” he said.
“Now we just have to wait and see and hopefully it makes the next hurdle and can be ratified at the end of June.”
Morrison Reserve was a big winner in this year’s draft budget with an additional $401,000 going towards drainage and irrigation works for the soccer pitch adjacent to the athletics track.
Cr Heenan said this would also include edge work on the soccer pitch where it meets the running track.
“It’s exciting … it’s a lot of money and is going to be fantastic for Morrison Reserve,” he said.
The council will also spend $30,900 on the Quinns Reserve development plan and $25,000 to install a path from the car park at Morrison Reserve.
More than $532,000 in road improvements around Mount Evelyn including Clematis and Falkingham Roads, the intersection at Old Gippsland and Old Hereford Roads and Birmingham Road.