The residential development in Rockbank PSP (Precinct Structure Plan) commenced ten years ago, with a significant portion of the area now occupied by families with children of various ages. Despite this growth, our community has been left underserved, lacking fundamental amenities such as a community centre, sports fields, primary and secondary schools.

The current timeline provided by the Melton council for the development of the sports fields (2028/29) and pavilion (2031/32) in Rockbank PSP is entirely unacceptable and irresponsible as it causes irreversible damage to the growth and development of kids in this community. This timeline means that an entire generation of kids in this community will continue to grow up without access to essential spaces for sports, social interaction, and community gatherings.

We note council already owns the land for the sports reserve and has advised it will commence master planning of the sports reserve in 2024/25, which means there is no reason why this project cannot be delivered sooner than forecasted.

It is disheartening to witness neighbouring areas of similar age like Aintree receiving unprecedented attention with multiple sporting reserves, community centres and schools while Rockbank, in dire need, remains neglected. The proposed timeline for the delivery of the sports fields and pavilion reflects the council's failure to understand our needs and the continued impact of this negligence on our community.

We urgently request the Melton Council to prioritise and expedite the planning, funding, construction, and delivery of the sports fields and pavilion in the suburb of Rockbank (as gazetted in 2017), aiming for completion by 2026 to meet the immediate needs of the kids in our community.