The Nationals have called on the Andrews Labor Government to urgently find a suitable new home for the Latrobe Valley Squash with their facility to be demolished to make way for the recently announced GovHub in Morwell.
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victorian Region, Melina Bath, raised the matter in State Parliament this week, calling on Labor to intervene to fix the mess it has created.
Ms Bath said when Labor announced that the new GovHub would be located in Church Street Morwell they failed to consider the needs of Latrobe Valley Squash.
“As a direct result of this development, once land transfers are completed and construction works commence Latrobe Valley Squash face the almost impossible task of finding alternative facilities from which to operate or cease operating at all,” said Ms Bath.
“It is a fact that Latrobe Valley Squash has not been provided with any surety past December 2018. I am saddened that their active association will no longer have a home and will have to cease due to a lack of a suitable facility.”
The Morwell Squash Courts have been at the Church Street location for decades and the facility has been home to both the Moe and Morwell Squash Clubs. Squash in the Latrobe Valley has a strong and diverse membership base and Latrobe Valley Squash has more than 140 players who regularly utilise the facility.
The Nationals candidate for Morwell, Sheridan Bond, said the Latrobe Valley Squash Association’s five courts support a great number of regular participants of all ages who are valued, active and connected in our local community.
“The Nationals are asking the Sports Minister to work with the group to find a solution so Latrobe Valley Squash can continue in a suitable new location. It’s important the participants have the opportunity to retain their competition and membership base,” said Ms Bond.
“Latrobe Valley Squash must be sustained and located somewhere else that meets the group’s needs before the GovHub can progress.
“It beggars belief that a community group can be left homeless with such poor consultation and are at risk of being homeless forever. This is especially baffling when we have the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) which was set up by Daniel Andrews to support and revitalise our local community.
“Here is a perfectly worthy project and community group and I strongly urge the Andrews Labor Government and the LVA to work with them and find a solution so the GovHub can continue without impacting on a grassroots community group and its members.”
