Michaela Meade
Calls for upgrades to sports facilities and a pedestrian bridge over Broadmeadows Road, Gladstone Park, are among 90 community submissions about Hume council’s proposed 2021-22 budget.
Residents and community groups were given the opportunity to speak to councillors about the projects they believe should be included in 2021-22 budget during a council meeting last week.
Westmeadows resident Lorraine James called for a pedestrian bridge over a section of Broadmeadows Road to help children walk to and from school safely.
Ms James said the current road bridge over Broadmeadows Road, which passes Moonee Ponds Creek and leads to Gladstone Park, is unsafe for pedestrians in the area.
“I am terrified of the possibility of my children ending up as cases in a Coroners Court,” Ms James said.
“My secondary school children have to walk over this bridge twice every day to get to and from school.
“Vehicles are legally allowed to travel at 70km/h directly next to pedestrians walking across the bridge.
“If my children were walking in a school zone, this would be 40km/h with a nature strip between them and the moving vehicles.
“I am desperate for changes to be made.
“I am asking council to consider building a pedestrian bridge along this section of road so there is a safe way for residents to traverse the creek without having to walk on the main road.”
Upfield Soccer Club asked council to consider upgrades to the pitches at its Gibb Reserve, Dallas, homeground.
“We feel our grounds are neglected from getting checked to make them as fair as the other pitches in the city of Hume,” presdient Walid Hanna said.
Mr Hanna also requested council to consider installing a new fence and soccer pitch, and new female facilities.
“We have had negative feedback on facilities that [have] impacted on our club as female players choose to go to clubs with better facilities [where] they can have more privacy with their own change rooms,” he said.
Greenvale United Soccer Club asked council to make several upgrades to the club’s facilities, including a pavilion extension and establishment of female facilities.
Broadmeadows Basketball Association said both the basketball stadium and netball centre need upgrades, including the provision of a medical and rehabilitation space for injured players.
Council will consider the submissions before adopting its final budget later this month.
