Sporting clubs, community groups and residents have made 15 submissions to Hume council’s draft budget, calling for upgrades to reserves, carpark improvements and even support for a community orchestra.
The submissions were presented to the council at a special meeting on June 19.
Two soccer clubs – Broadmeadows Stars and Hume United – asked for improvements to their home grounds.
The Stars, who play at Coolaroo’s Progress Reserve, said the club had been asking for better lighting for 10 years.
In the submission, club secretary Cemil Yildiz said there was also a need for the club rooms to be upgraded as they were old and outdated.
“Throughout this period, we have seen many players come and go and the majority have left due to the fact that our club is lacking in facilities. They have gone to a club with newer or cleaner facilities,” he said.
“We have gone from having 300 members to now having just under 100.”
Hume United asked the council to upgrade the lighting at Laura Douglas Reserve in Dallas so teams could play night matches.
The council also received a submission from Hume resident Helen Hatzikalis asking for help starting the Hume Community Orchestra.
Ms Hatzikalis, who co-ordinates the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Pizzicato Effect Program, providing Hume school children with free music tuition, has asked the council to help her advertise the orchestra and appoint a board, patron and paid conductor.
She would also like to hold weekly rehearsals in the Broadmeadows Town Hall once it is refurbished.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull wrote to the council asking for it to help the Tullamarine Men’s Shed find a permanent home, while the Broadmeadows Turkish Islamic and Cultural Centre called for the carpark and lighting at its King Street, Dallas site to be improved.
The council released the draft budget on May 8 and proposes to spend more than $79 million in capital works projects across the municipality. Councillors are expected to adopt the budget this week.
