Pascoe Vale electorate
Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (14:46): (1211) My constituency question is for the Minister for Community Sport. What is the Victorian Labor government doing to support our grassroots sporting clubs, including our athletics community via the Coburg Harriers and Coburg Little Athletics club? Following a sustained local community grassroots campaign, I am delighted to report to the house that Merri-bek council have listened and since voted unanimously on 9 July to save, preserve and enhance the iconic Coburg athletics track and field precinct. As part of the revised, finalised North Coburg sports hub master plan, the presence of the longstanding Harold Stevens Athletics Track, accessed by over 15,000 people a year, will be maintained and assured for many years to come. I would like to give a huge thankyou to the Merri-bek City Council for listening and responding to the overwhelming views of so many local families, schools and community members who campaigned hard to save the track. A special thankyou to the entire Coburg athletics community for their advocacy: Peter Leahy, Michael Chadwick, David Woods and the hundreds of local families who got involved to launch and spread the word of the campaign, put up signs, letterboxed and signed the 1700-plus-signature petition. Commendations also to council for the other positive master plan outcomes for Coburg outdoor pool, Coburg table tennis club, Coburg footy club, East Coburg cricket club and Merri Creek and Edgars Creek groups.