Glen Iris Junior Football Club
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (17:34): (2027) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, who just happens to be here at the moment. The action I seek is that she ensure that the Glen Iris Junior Football Club, the Gladiators, continue to have access to their playing facilities at Sir Zelman Cowen Park. The Glen Iris Gladiators are a junior football club with over 700 young players, boys and girls, playing in the Yarra Junior Football League. They field a remarkable 31 junior football teams, and many of these young footballers live in my electorate of Hawthorn. The only way to get to their ground is via Talbot Crescent. Currently one end of Talbot Crescent, the Toorak Road end, is closed due to the removal of the Toorak Road level crossing. The road was to be reopened when the works are complete. Stonnington City Council then decided that they would permanently close the road, which would make access, particularly for many players from my electorate, much harder. The president of the Glen Iris Gladiators has advised that this sporting club, one of the biggest in Stonnington, was not even consulted. Many Gladiator families have written to Stonnington council seeking that they keep the road open, but to no avail. Additionally, the Gladiators are asking if Stonnington would consider undertaking some additional works at the oval when the removal of the crossings is complete. What action is the minister taking to ensure that hundreds of young footballers are not cut off from their football club?