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A 31-year-old man has been charged with destroying two sports facilities in Melbourne’s south-east after the soccer community in the area was hit with suspected arson attacks.
The man, from Dandenong, is accused of burning the pavilion at Capital Reserve in Glen Waverley about 3am on April 16, and then targeting the clubhouse at nearby Mayfield Reserve about 5.15am on May 3. The fires caused more than $4 million in damage.
The damage from the Capital Reserve fire in Glen Waverley on April 16.Credit: Daniel Pockett
The Age revealed in May that police were investigating whether the blazes were linked.
The fires followed a stoush between Monash Council and its soccer clubs, after the council made a contested decision on which club would be allocated to its newly upgraded facility at Carlson Reserve in Mount Waverley.
Police are investigating a third fire, the firebombing of a car at the home of a soccer club director in November 2024. No charges have been laid over that fire.
Detectives from the Monash crime investigation unit charged the Dandenong man with two counts of arson and two counts of vehicle theft.
The damaged clubhouse at Mayfield Reserve in Mount Waverley on May 3.Credit: Eddie Jim
He was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 7.
In May, the devastated president of the Glen Waverley Soccer Club, Kosta Ganotis, told The Age the fire at Capital Reserve had destroyed the club’s memorabilia and equipment, including $40,000 worth of new player uniforms.
Ganotis, whose club has about 350 junior players, said at the time that fear was spreading among the local soccer community.
“I’ve been at the club for over 25 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said. “Kids just want to come and kick the ball, it’s a big part of their life. It hits home pretty badly when they see a place they felt safe [get burnt down].”
The burnt sports facilities were also used by cricket and Australian rules clubs.
Monash Council had to scramble to move the homeless sport clubs to other grounds within the municipality. Extra security was introduced at the council’s facilities.
“Losing two facilities for local sporting clubs in a matter of weeks is incredibly disappointing and concerning,” Mayor Paul Klisaris said at the time.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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