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Gippsland › Latest news › Russel Northe MLA

Local Sporting Club Becomes GovHub Casualty

No club anymore for Latrobe Valley Squash members.

By Portal Admin - 14th July 2019 - Back to News

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has today highlighted the State Government’s contradictions in its media release of 28th June, 2019 titled "Delivering Jobs for the Latrobe Valley".

Within the said media release the State Government speaks to the benefits of the proposed GovHub that is set to be constructed in the township of Morwell, an initiative that should be supported, particularly if it assists in the creation of local jobs for local people.

However I would like to think the State Government would introduce such an initiative without inflicting the demise of one of our local squash facilities that is located on the same site".

Last Thursday, Latrobe Valley Squash members played their last ever season at their current home on Church Street, Morwell. The Club have essentially been kicked out of their building to make way for the upcoming GovHub to be built on the site.

"Despite previous Government assurances to the contrary, the Club have no home to go to either in the interim, or long term", Mr Northe lamented.

Latrobe Valley Squash has successfully ran two competitions a season, for many years.

Boasting a huge 140-member community, Latrobe Valley Squash players travel from all over to play in a family-friendly and inclusive atmosphere that promotes health and fitness.

"They have been working as hard as they can to advocate for a new home for over a year, but sadly they have been left in the lurch and without comparable facilities in the local area" said Mr Northe.

"When you visit this facility, you immediately recognise that Latrobe Valley Squash players and members have a special place where you have entire families regularly participating including Mum’s, Dad’s, kids and Grandparents" Mr Northe added.

The youngest player is 14, and the eldest 83! Not only this, but the club enjoys a very high standard of play including Masters, State, Australian and World champions all hailing from Latrobe Valley Squash".

"When one looks at the successful transition of the Traralgon Croquet Club to a new location due to the construction of the new Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre, one has to ask why the same supports and assistance have not been afforded to the Latrobe Valley Squash members, particularly given this is not a new issue" Mr Northe said.

"This issue has been highlighted in Parliament and to the attention of the relevant Ministers and I call upon the State Government to urgently intervene in this matter", Mr Northe said.

"We need to be encouraging our local clubs like this to not only continue, but to thrive – not kicking them out on the street and basically destroying their future".

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com

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