Listed below are expenditure figures taken directly from the past 8 budgets which focus on sporting facilities and equipment. As a comparison we also list the amounts assigned to drains and Local Area Traffic Management over this time. Please note that the definition of ‘drains’ according to council is: “Drains include drains in road reserves and sports grounds drainage and irrigation”. Hence when the budget, for example, cites $3m on ‘drains’, residents need to subtract the amount that is set aside for sporting grounds and ‘irrigation’ in order to ascertain the real figures being spent on ameliorating the potential for flooding in residential areas.
At first glance some of the figures presented below appear to be repeated (ie coach boxes). However, no location is provided for many of these apparent ‘duplicates’, and since the sums differ, we can only assume that more than one location is intended.
Some of the costings simply beggar belief as does the numbers of ‘cricket net’ and ‘cricket cover’ replacements. With an ageing population, and a fall in the numbers of residents partaking in ‘organised sport’, we have to seriously question whether the priorities of this council are in line with the majority of residents’ priorities.
Last, but not least, we have omitted many of the “set up” expenditures on GESAC which according to council accounted for more than $7 million.
2006/7 BUDGET
Bricker pavilion – $1.15 million
Implementation of the Joyce Park master-plan – $758,000
Cricket wicket replacement – $54,000
Caulfield Park pavillon/Cricket net Replacement/Car Park access $1,000,000
Sport Ground Lighting program – $327,000
Sport Ground drainage, irrigation & surface reshaping – $277,000
Cricket Net replacement program – $159,000
Sport Ground Drainage – Centenary Park – $124,000
Sport Ground Spoon Drain -King George VI – $57,000
Sport Ground Spoon drain – Koornang Park – $45,000
Replacement of deteriorated coaches boxes at sportgrounds – $36,000
Replacement of deteriorated coaches boxes at sportgrounds – $25,000
High Jump Mats (Junior & Senior) & Enclosure – $45,000
Tennis hit up wall replacement – $37,000
Replacement of Cricket wicket covers at Sportsgrounds – $30,000
Drains – $1.6m
LATM – $100,000
BUDGET 2007/8
Caulfield Park Pavilion – $4.63M
Tennis hit up wall – concrete floor replacement – $18,000
Redesign of new pavilion – $200,000
Synthetic wicket cover replacements – $5,000
Sportsground rolling lighting program – $365,000
Steel goalpost replacement – $25,000
Cricket net replacement program – $246,000
Caulfield Park cricket wicket relocation – $225,000
Players shelter – $25,000
Softball roof and reshaping of diamond – $40,000
Drainage – $3.3M
LATM – $50,000
BUDGET 2008/9
Caulfield Park pavilion – $605,000
Sportsground drainage – $500,000
Sportsground lighting – $305,000
Design works at Duncan McKinnon – $200,000
Duncan McKinnon drought tolerant system – $150,000
Cricket net replacement – $95,000
High jump enclosure modification – $25,000
Minor pavilion renewal works – $40,000
Cricket net replacement – $95,000
Sports Ground lighting rolling program – $305,000
Wicket soil replacement – Moorleigh – $25,000
Improve accessibility to sports fields – $6,000
Sports ground fencing – $14,500
Sports ground drainage – $500,000
Expansion of wicket tables – $20,000
Cricket wicket area remedial works – $28,000
Duncan McKinnon Master Plan – $70,000
Sports ground shelters – $70,000
Duncan McKinnon athletics track speaker system replacement – $5,000
Sports ground spoon drain – Moorleigh Reserve – $50,000
Drains – $3m
LATM – $50,000
BUDGET 2009/10
Sports Grounds Lighting $175,000.
Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – Spring – Centenary – Reserve No.1, Koornang Park, EE Gunn-Oval No.1 $1,234,000
Reconstruction• Sports Ground Drainage, Irrigation, Reshaping and Redesign $650,000;
Reconfiguration of Marlborough Reserve $75,000
Installation of Excluding Zone Fencing $80,000
Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – Autumn – Victory Park No.1, King George Reserve No.1 $542,000
Cricket Net Upgrades/Replacements Program – $132,000
Pavilion Renewal Upgrade Program – $700,000
Sports Ground Lighting Timing Switches – $15,000
Cricket Wicket Reconstruction, Replacement, Remedial Works – $112,000
Replacement of Soccer & Football Posts – $40,000
Sports Ground Drainage, Irrigation & Redesign – $60,000
Synthetic Covers for Cricket Wickets – $40,000
Athletics Track Line Marking & Maintenance – $50,000
Fitness Equipment Undersurfacing Works – $30,000
Half Costing Fencing Assistance Program – $50,000
Drains – $3m
LATM _ $100,000
BUDGET 2010/11
Sport ground drought tolerant grasses rolling program – $1,305,000
Sports ground lighting rolling program – $150,000
Duncan McKinnon Pavilion Upgrade – $750,000
Crcket Net synthetic surface replacement program at Koornang Park – $15,000
Detail design and documention of master plan – Marlborough Reserve and Caulfield Park sports grounds 3 and 4 – $55,000
Sports ground shelter (EE Gunn Reserve) – $30,000
Reshaping and resurface of Diamond 3 at Bailey Reserve – $50,000
Synthetic covers for cricket wickets – $40,000
Drip irrigation – sports fields – $130,000
Drains – $3m
LATM – $325,000
BUDGET 2011/12
Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass $1,435,000
Sports Grounds Upgrade $70,000
Pavilion Renewal Upgrade $5,500,000
Replace Coaches Boxes (EE Gunn Reserve) – $35,000
Replacement of Synthetic Cricket Wicket Surface – $50,000
Driveway for Tractor Access to Sports Field – $30,000
Upgrade of Athletic Track Throwers Cages, Shot Put Zone & Surrounding Surfaces – $70,000
Drains – $3,
LATM – $360,000
BUDGET 2012/13
Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – $650,000
Sports Ground Lighting -$125,000
Pavilion Upgrade- Duncan Mackinnon – $1,085,000
Pavilion Upgrade (Design) – Centenary Park – $200,000
Installation of Synthetic Cricket Wicket Surface – $30,000
Packer Park Velodrome Upgrade – $160,000
Heating Systems Renewal within Pavilions – $48,000
Drains – $3.94m (Including $450,000 govt grant that has to be returned since the full project for Boyd Park was abandoned)
LATM – $200,000
BUDGET 13/14
Sports ground drought tolerant grasses – Caulfield park (ovals 3 and 4) – $650,000
Sports ground lighting, Duncan Mackinnon Oval; Duncan Mackinnon Track – $160,000
Pavilion upgrade – Duncan Mackinnon – $2,150,000
Construction of new Pavilion – Centenary Park – $1,300,000
Replacement and installation of synthetic cricket wicket surfaces within practice nets – $15,000
Softball diamond fencing upgrade – $85,000
Public tennis court resurfacing – $50,000
Packer park velodrome track resurfacing – $85,000
Centre wicket protecting fencing – $14,000
Drainage of tennis courts – EE Gunn Reserve – $60,000
Sport ground safety fencing Oval 1 King George Reserve – $25,000
Drains – $3.5m
LATM – $200,000
Glen Eira Debates 
December 8, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Show me the figures which illustrate less Glen Eira residents are participating in sporting activities?
Sport is a productive way of not only reducing health costs but also giving people a means of enriching their lives through fitness, through socialising and by providing entertainment. The latter both as participants and observers.
Most grounds and facilities are a source of income for the Council as clubs pay quite high rental charges for their use and other bodies can – and do- hire them.
Your obsession about sporting facilities is something that is almost unhealthy.
There was once a blog run by Mary Walsh which, while critical of Council, had some objectivity. The incessant negativity of this blog is becoming embarrassing.
December 9, 2013 at 8:29 AM
Sport, sport and more, sport Mr. Burke, what about a few $’s to improve the our local park that’s rundown, boring and full of weeds.
Oh sorry! only sport can save us, non sporting areas are not worth 10 cents, unless all the troublesome trees are cut down, and the place can be converted into some type of barren paddock to play sport on, then you will get all the care and money needed.
December 9, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Pretty easy to shoot the messenger instead of looking at the problem. I wouldn’t think that the post is anti sport nor denying of its health benefits. I read it as asking questions about how money is being spent. When multi millions are spent on primarily organised sport then there needs to be some quantification of the benefits so that ratepayers know that this is well spent money. Pavilions are the best example. Duncan Mackinnon has blown out to ten million. Caulfield pavilion went for about five million. Add in the costs of car parks, changes in roads, loss of open space and you’ve got to start thinking whether the planning could have been a lot better and cheaper.
The 1998 open space strategy said that only 47% of open space was devoted to passive areas and that was probably underestimated. This would have decreased even more over the years once you count in the enlarged car parks and moving of ovals all over the place. That means a minority of the population is getting the biggest slice of the pie.
December 9, 2013 at 3:34 PM
that 47% included the carparks access rds, infactructure footprints etc. so the real mix would be 30 / 70 or close to it.
December 9, 2013 at 10:28 AM
People were heard last week-end saying that Maccabi Sports Club were given grounds and now Ajax are lining up. The gang with the help of Okotel were in favour of giving the Ajax club a permanent allocation and that is why a policy is suggested. Are the officers wrong?
December 9, 2013 at 12:08 PM
What people? Who were they talking to? How did you overhear them? Sounds to me you are just talking Bullcrap Anonymous.
December 9, 2013 at 2:28 PM
i heard it too. If AJAX and Maccabi get permanent allocation then it will take pressure of having to open up Caulfield Racecourse to the community to use for sport
December 9, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Acually he overheard me talking, it’s true
December 9, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Click to access The_Future_of_Australian_Sport_-_Full_Report.pdf
December 9, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Thank you Anonymous for alerting us to this report which makes the millions spent on formal sporting grounds and pavilions that much more questionable. There have been countless statements coming out from council about the lack of sporting fields. If true, then why can’t some arrangements be made with local schools for the hire and use of their grounds. Council could even pay for the upkeep such as mowing of the ovals and this would still be cheaper than what organised sport is costing ratepayers at the moment. This isn’t a new idea and has been talked about for years but like everything else in Glen Eira nothing happens. The same old strategies stay in place using up valuable resources and causing conflict.
December 9, 2013 at 7:49 PM
Anything goes for the golden clubs of Maccabi and AJAX in this area. To bad non of the other clubs are treated the same.
December 9, 2013 at 10:09 PM
The gang (MODERATORS: rest of sentence and following sentence deleted). Check the minutes of Council meetings and other records and there is your answer.
December 9, 2013 at 10:25 PM
No one has brought up anything about conflict of interest in some of the sporting decisions that have been made. Hyams is involved with cricket and so is Magee and Pilling has an interest with Duncan Mckinnon and Lipshutz with all the jewish clubs. None of them have ever declared any conflicts of interest. They should have in my book and excused themselves from voting on any of this.
December 9, 2013 at 10:59 PM
When you say “involved”, or “has an interest with” what does that explicitly mean? Details?
December 9, 2013 at 11:30 PM
Tut, tut, tut. You clearly don’t read the council rag. Page 3 tells the ignorant that Pilling has “an active involvement with local sporting groups at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve”. Hyams plays cricket; Magee coaches a local team and Lipshutz has got his finger in every pie of the Jewish community. Clear enough?
December 10, 2013 at 10:13 PM
More generalisations Macca. What are precisely the roles and what is the extent of the influence of those roles. For example, if a Councillor is an office bearer he/she should disqualify him or herself from all deliberations and decision making. On the other hand, if he/she was merely a team member or one of their kids was a team member then declaring that would in most cases suffice.
December 11, 2013 at 11:19 AM
” Anything goes for the golden clubs of Maccabi and AJAX in this area. To
bad non of the other clubs are treated the same”
Whose fault is it anyway?
December 11, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Excuse going off topic. But heard today Council approved the purchase of 14 new 4 wheel drives vehicles for the execs. Anyone confirm? IF true, so much for having a ‘Green’ Mayor.
December 11, 2013 at 8:46 PM
Does anyone know who voted on the day of Mayoral election for ‘Green Mayor?
December 11, 2013 at 8:52 PM
See our post at the time – https://gleneira.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/pilling-gets-the-nod/
December 12, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Oh, so the gang and Delahunty voted for a greens mayor. Is there any particular reason why that has happened? Why did Delahunty not join Magee in supporting Lobo? Has she joined the gang? This smells foul and reflects Delahunty’s just big talk .