Sports ground upgrade call

By Bridget Brady
PLANS for Cairns Road Recreation Reserve to be a premier sporting facility need to be addressed now, the grounds committee says.
The Hampton Park reserve, home to four different sporting clubs and a school, is desperate for an upgrade to keep young athletes in the town.
Grounds committee president Erica Maliki said the ovals, cricket nets, pavilion and toilets were below par, and needed immediate attention.
“We don’t want everybody in Hampton Park to leave Hampton Park to play sport,” Ms Maliki said.
Ms Maliki said it was about time Hampton Park got some attention.
An athletics track around the football oval and a discus, shot put and long jump area were among the ideas for new facilities.
In a letter to Casey Council, Ms Maliki said portable toilets were needed immediately because the disabled toilet was also the female toilet at the clubrooms.
“We would be extremely grateful if we could have access to porta-toilets to help ease this problem until a permanent solution can be reached.”
Ms Maliki said meetings with councillors had been positive. “But we can’t wait three years for upgrades.”