MELVILLE Tree Canopy Advocates are hoping to force a special electors meeting to halt the expansion of the John Connell Reserve for a controversial cricket pitch.

The advocacy group’s founder and convener Esther Cole has begun collecting signatures to push Melville council into the meeting in the hopes over overturning its support for the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club and Leeming Strikers Soccer Club removing 0.68ha of native bushland to increase their playing areas.

Ms Cole said the group wasn’t against an expanded cricket pitch, but had concerns over the cost of the removal of bushland and what the project would mean for the City’s ratepayers. 

“I have spoken to about 100 people, and my question would go along the lines of, ‘have you heard about the $5 million cricket pitch at Leeming?’

“Some would say ‘yes’, some would say ‘no’, but everyone was saying ‘that’s a lot of money for a cricket pitch’,” Ms Cole said. 

“We don’t know where the money is coming from yet. So the only options the council has is to increase rates or to delay other programs or perhaps both.”

The City has estimated the total cost to expand the playing field for the cricket and soccer club at $4,684,991.

The figure includes $1.05m – $1.3m to revegetate and rehabilitate neighbouring Ken Hurst Park.

The City is also hoping to halve its contribution by getting matched funding from the state government.

But Ms Cole believes the revegetation will “likely blow out” due to Friends of Ken Hurst Park data showing sapling survival rates of zero to 30 per cent.

“The optimal solution is to take a pause, stand back, and make sure we really have got the best solution there for the ratepayers and for environment.”

“If those trees still have to go, they should be replaced first before they’re actually taken down. 

“I’m not an environmental expert but I think we need to talk to the people that are, and ask how do you manage this.”

Ms Cole currently has 70 signatures to request the special electors meeting.

by ISLA TOMLINSON