Page 458 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

During the summer of 1994 Parkside's president, Jim Lee, expressed club's genuine concern for the
well-being of the players and spectators around Parkside home, giving this interview to the
Footscray Advocate.

Parkside Future at Risk

By Deborah Gough

“"I'd hate to say we'd have to pull out, that would be the worst scenario, but when you wage that
against lives there's nothing else to consider." - Mr Jim Lee, president of Parkside Football Club

The future of the Parkside Foot-ball Club is in doubt because of the risk to players and supporters
from heavy trucks which will use the small access road between the playing field and clubrooms.

Myers Road separates the club-rooms from the oval on the Henry Turner Memorial Reserve.

When demolition works begin in April or May, some 10,000 trucks will use the small road to enter
the Australian Defence Industries' site and shift about 50,000 cubic metres of waste and building
materials.

Club president, Mr Jim Lee, of Maidstone, says when work gets underway, about 80 trucks a day will
use the road. He says he will close the club rather than put lives in jeopardy. The club has four sides
and hundreds of supporters.

"I'd hate to say we'd have to pull out, that would be the worst scenario, but when you weigh that
against lives there's nothing else to consider," Mr Lee said.

"During home games I don't think you could even get a truck through here. People park in every
available spot, on both sides of the road and this road is almost like a dirt track," Mr Lee said.

If current plans go ahead, Myers Road, a 20-kph strip at present, will become one of the main
entrances to the new housing estate, this will mean the road will have to be widened and the
clubrooms demolished.

Mr Lee said the club had lost its telephone line eight times in three months because of works on the
site.

Footscray council had told him the club would lose its sewerage system when a pumping station on
the housing site was removed. This would make the club ineligible to play Footscray District League
games there.

The club wants its buildings relocated across the road on the opposite side of the oval.

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider