LATEST: Knox Council last night dumped its planned $930,000 rebuilding of the Carrington Park Pavilion amid abuse and heckling from a rowdy public gallery.
More than 200 junior and adult members of football and cricket clubs shouted objections and obscenities, and demanded councillors ‘‘cut your wages’’ as the council prepared to vote down the plan.
The clubs were warned last year the rebuilding was likely to be scrapped once the combined council and clubs funding fell short of the winning $1.13 million tender.
Cr Nicole Seymour led the motion to cancel the project and instead consider a master plan project for the entire Carrington Park reserve in the 2013/14 budget.
Cr Seymour said it was necessary to cut the funding because other groups — such as a snooker club, tennis club, aged care facility and community garden — also used the precinct.
But as councillors debated the motion, the gallery erupted with loud ‘boos’ and shouts of ‘crap’. Several protestors stormed out, shouting abuse as they left. Many chanted their club song.
The project was spear-headed last year by former councillor Andrew Walter, who was amid the protest group which included members of the Scoresby Junior Football Club, Scoresby Womens Football Team and Knoxfield Cricket Club.
Cr Seymour said they needed to co-ordinate a project that delivered the best value for residents and would maximise the value of the assets already there. ‘‘We need to be strategic and spend the money wisely,’’ Cr Seymour said.
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