Community rugby facilities will be enhanced in Stonnington following a $1 million election commitment from the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC MP and Labor candidate for Higgins, Fiona McLeod, were at Orrong Romanis Reserve today for a major announcement on sporting facilities in Higgins.
The commitment of a $7 million dollar major sports facilities funding package for Higgins includes $1 million dollars of support for the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club (MRUFC).
Tyrone Landsman, MRUFC President welcomed today’s announcement, “Over the last ten years our Club has worked very diligently to strengthen and broaden the programs offered to our local community.”
“Currently, the Club fields eight senior sides including Men’s, Women’s, Colts and Master’s teams. We are proud to host the Melbourne Chargers, a gay-inclusive team, that are an integral part of the fabric of the Club. We field 13 girls and boys Junior teams on a weekly basis. We also partner with Disability Sport & Recreation in support of the Protect Victoria Wheelchair Rugby Cup, the premier competition in Victoria. This makes us one of the largest rugby clubs in Australia and one of the biggest winter community sports club in the municipality.”
“On the back of this year’s Rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, which will showcase Men’s and Women’s Rugby 7s, we are expecting ongoing and considerable growth across the board. In particular our (junior) girls, boys and women’s numbers will increase over the next two years.”, explained Landsman.
According to the Club the existing facilities are not inline with current ecologically sustainable development nor designed for female participation. There is no wheelchair or emergency services access to the clubrooms. In a separate building there are four change rooms with two open plan wet areas to accommodate both male and female players.
There is no year round storage for the Club’s equipment. And there is no year around ground access to accommodate new programs like Touch 7s, Rugby 7s and Winter Preseason training.
Landsman added, “The Club also accommodates professional players who are allocated from the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby club. The proposed upgrade will support their integration into our Club”.
The Melbourne Rugby Club will work with the Council to implement the funding commitment within the framework of the Council’s Recreation Strategy (2014 – 2024). According to the report, Council will look to prioritise the needs of residents in the western end of the municipality as there is a lack of sport and recreation infrastructure and will look to maximise opportunities within existing precincts including Orrong Romanis Reserve and the Como Park precinct.
Landsman added, “This is excellent leadership as it provides our Club’s management committee and members, who invest so many volunteer hours, with a belief that what they are doing and the positive contribution that they make to life in Stonnington is truly valued.”
“On behalf of our members and supporters I wish to thank Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Labour candidate for Higgins, Fiona McLeod and the ALP for their support of the Club’s continuing development and for the wider sports facilities funding package for Higgins”.
Today’s Announcement:
A Shorten Labor Government will invest $7 million for improved sporting facilities for families, children and our community in Higgins.
+ $1 million for Melbourne Rugby Club to upgrade Orrong Romanis Reserve and Thomas Oval / Como Park North in the City of Stonnington
+ $2 million for new or redeveloped multi-purpose courts
+ $4 million to deliver the new multipurpose community hub at Murrumbeena Park
Source: Labor candidate for Higgins, Fiona McLeod
