‘More likely to gamble than play’: The grassroots question over Melbourne’s sporting future
City of Sydney councillor Jess Miller and Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins discussed the challenges of maintaining grassroots sporting facilities in urban areas. They highlighted the tension between commercial land development and the need for public community spaces.
Why it matters
Urban planning decisions regarding public space have long-term implications for community health, social cohesion, and the future of grassroots sports.
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Share A A A Melbourne Assembly brings together the people, ideas and conversations shaping the future of our city. See all stories . When Jess Miller’s council went head to head with a cashed-up data centre operator over 7000 square metres of open space, $70 million was the steep price to secure the land for a public sports ground.
It’s a battle happening in cities around Australia: councils with modest budgets confronting a ferocious commercial market. For the Melbourne-born City of Sydney councillor, though, the price was one worth paying.
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