DECEMBER 4, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Victory cries foul By Benjamin Millar
Altona Beach comes alive Altona beach is set to become only the second place in Australia to have free daily activities, from stand up paddleboarding to line dancing, on the foreshore. Altona Village Traders Association has banded with local businesses to put on events for the month of January on the main beach and along the foreshore and parks. Other activities include yoga, qigong, boxing, self defence, art, line dancing, Indigenous mindfulness, Latin dance and volleyball. AVTA liaison officer Sharon Walsh said that with part of the Esplanade being closed to cars during summer, there was an opportunity for businesses other than the cafes and restaurants to showcase their activities. “I thought, let’s do some workouts on the waterfront,” she said. “People can come along, they can have a try. You can do one, you can do them all. Ms Walsh said it was a Victorian first. “There is one other place that does this – it is in Cairns – so we’ll claim it for Victoria at least,” she said. For businesses such as Sun Seekers stand up paddleboarding, which started working with Altona RSL veterans three years ago, the holiday program is a chance to let more people know about what’s on offer. Instructor Emma Moore, pictured, said she loved the idea. “We have such a beautiful natural resource here and it’s good to be able to get out and enjoy it, but not just sit on the beach,” she said. For details, visit the Altona Village Traders Association Facebook page. Goya Dmytryshchak
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(Damjan Janevski) 201465_01
Maribyrnong council’s rejection of Melbourne Victory’s proposal to build a football academy in Footscray Park could descend into an expensive legal wrangle amid claims parties had signed a binding commitment to the project. The football club’s dream to build an $18 million soccer academy in Footscray Park appeared dashed last Tuesday night when a 5-2 majority of councillors voted to reject the controversial plan. Melbourne Victory called the decision “both disappointing and surprising”, claiming the council has “contractually committed” to deliver the earmarked Footscray Park site. “Melbourne Victory is considering all of its options in light of council’s decision,” it said in a statement. Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said the parties signed an agreement four years ago, but it was a memorandum of understanding subject to community consultation. However a club spokesman told Star Weekly the council and club signed a separate agreement last year with the state government, which has promised $10 million to the academy. “Council entered into an agreement with Melbourne Victory and the state government, beyond an MoU, and made a commitment to the site which was signed in mid-2018,” he said. Asked about the 2018 agreement, Maribyrnong council director of corporate services Celia Haddock said the council is unable to provide comment on specific arrangements. “However, we can reiterate that council is not contractually bound to lease Footscray Park to Melbourne Victory,” she said. Footscray MP Katie Hall said she has always said that community consultation was “very important” and the government will now work with Melbourne Victory and any interested local council to help find an alternative location. “Throughout this process I met with all community members who requested a meeting and I passed on the views of both sides of the debate to council representatives, as is appropriate,” she said. The stoush follows an often fiery meeting last Tuesday night where a packed public gallery erupted in cheers when the proposal was voted down. Cr Martin Zakharov unsuccessfully moved to defer the vote, arguing the process had been “rushed”. Chief executive Stephen Wall said the council had spent between $50,000 and $100,000 to date on “due diligence” and other associated costs assessing the proposal.