THE football scoreboard structure at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve was demolished last month, with the scoreboard to be relocated before the start of the football season.
Mitchell Shire Council officials said the old scoreboard structure failed to meet building regulations, and the new scoreboard would be compliant with Outer East Football Netball league requirements of the scoreboard being visible from the timekeeper’s box.
Council will build a separate storage building at the reserve for the use of tenant clubs along with a new scoreboard.
Demolition of the scoreboard, which came to fruition through volunteer labour and sponsors’ funding in 2016, upset many Broadford residents, who were not aware of the impending demolition until it was being torn down.
Council chief executive Brett Luxford’s claim that it was Broadford Football Netball Club’s decision to demolish the scoreboard has since been vehemently denied by the club’s president Bonnie Cavanagh since the original article was published in the Review’s March 15 edition.
“The decision to demolish the scoreboard building was made by Broadford Football Netball Club and supported by the Harley Hammond Reserve committee of management in consultation with council,” Mr Luxford said, in a statement sent to the Review last week.
“Council has a positive ongoing relationship with the club and the committee. We have been working together to ensure the best outcome is achieved for all users.”
Mr Luxford said the old scoreboard’s location limited pedestrian access around a new netball-tennis pavilion and the reserve’s cricket nets, and that its removal would create a better pedestrian thoroughfare.
The cricket nets are set to be moved with plans for new nets to be built further towards the back of the reserve.
Mr Luxford said the scoreboard had become non-compliant with league regulations when Broadford joined the Outer East competition.
“Broadford Football Netball Club changed leagues from the Riddell District Football Netball League to the Outer East Football Netball League in 2020, several years after the scoreboard structure was built,” he said.
“The scoreboard structure did not meet the Outer East league’s visibility requirements for timekeepers.
“The scoreboard itself will be relocated before the start of the season by the committee of management to an agreed position with Broadford Football Netball Club.
“The new location will be compliant with the league’s requirements and will be easily visible from the Otway Tuckett Pavilion.”
