Mums, dads locked out of sports grounds
Fairfield Advance, Wed 29 May 07

MOTHERS and fathers trying to play catch with their children are being locked out of Fairfield Council-owned sporting grounds.

Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo raised the issue at a council meeting last week.

He said residents had complained about being locked out of a reserve in Greenfield Park.

Cr Ngo said the public was not aware of some grounds being open to residents and that several public sporting grounds had even been locked up.

He said the council was not doing enough to let the community know the grounds were open to the public.

"Over the years Fairfield Council has hired out sporting grounds to clubs and other sporting groups,'' he said.

"This arrangement has allowed these clubs to have a certainty in their access to council sporting grounds for training and comp matches.

"In return, I understand some clubs have funded improvements to the grounds, such as building grandstands, lights and change rooms at their own cost.

"However, I believe under the current arrangement some of council's sports grounds may have been fenced off and some may even be locked, thereby restricting general access.

"With all the signage and advertising up for various grounds, it can look like the fields are privately owned but this isn't the case.

"The grounds open to the public should be clearly marked, letting people know they can use them.''

He said he was concerned the relationship between the council and the larger sporting groups would turn into a de facto one.

"The sporting teams don't own the grounds.

"They're public parks but look like they belong to the club,'' he said.

"The residents don't even know it's for public hire or use  and in some cases they've fenced off the entire park.''

A council spokeswoman did not respond to the Fairfield Advance's  questions about the problem but said the council's staff were now looking into the matter.