The Cromwell Community Board has approved a request by the Cromwell Community Squash Club to make improvements to the exterior of the club building and concrete two areas that are currently stone or soil, and install a low fence.

The club holds a lease over the land on the Neplusultra Recreation Reserve, which expires on March 31, 2041, and owns the club premises. 

Club president David Crossan said concreting the areas would save on maintenance and tidy the whole area up.

“There’s possibly a broader plan later on to put out some tables for our members. Squash is being played year round now so we could have some tables out in summer.”

The club had asked permission to concrete an area next to the car parking, which is currently washed stone that is not easily cleaned of weeds or leaf debris. The area would then be easier to maintain and with the installation of a low fence in keeping with the aesthetic style of the existing fences and new bike racks, could be used for members' bike parking. 

The second area was down the side of the building on the southeast side, which was not utilised effectively as it was mainly bare soil and did not see a lot of sun. The new concrete would be the same height as the current concrete under the veranda and slope towards the greenway, enabling the shaded seating area for members.

These photos show the areas the Cromwell Community Squash Club wishes to concrete

The club proposed to fund and complete the work themselves and, as per their lease agreement, would be responsible for all future maintenance costs and work that any change to these areas would bring.

David said there was every indication that the club lease would be renewed again after 2041 and he considered the club an essential part of the community. Current membership was 140-150, he said, an increase of 30-40 people over the last 2-3 years.

“We have grown considerably, particularly the women and young members,” he said.

“Two or three years ago we were male-dominated. A few of our ladies organised the ‘Bubbles and Bash’ for women only and we garnished a lot of members from that.”

Food trucks, dog bins

The Cromwell Community Board also considered community ideas for the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan at its meeting on Tuesday (June 20).

One idea was for a food truck site on the south side of Super Liquor, a site council staff reported was privately owned land.

Board member Bob Scott suggested it was not an ideal spot because of the highway nearby.

“If we want more food trucks, Barry Ave would seem to be a better place.”

The consensus was that the issue of food trucks should be considered as part of the wider Cromwell Town Centre Project.

A suggestion to put bins and poo bags at the start of areas where dogs could be walked gave rise to some light-hearted yet serious discussion now that animal waste is being included in the council’s new green bins.

Community engagement manager Paula Penno said that putting in bins was seen as a solution in the past but that now the green bins were in use, things needed to be viewed under a different lens.

The board accepted the report.

The board also received the Cromwell Financial Report for the period ending March 31, 2023, which projected the ward to end the 2022/23 financial year with a closing balance of $3.89M.