Would you like 25 badminton games played less than 10 metres from your bedroom? Here's why Vermont locals opposed a local facility

A 25-court badminton centre in Vermont is a step closer to reality after Whitehorse Council voted to approve 159-171 Rooks Road for use as an indoor recreation facility.

At the council meeting on Monday April 14, councillors voted unanimously to support a permit application to amend how the block is used, subject to 29 conditions.

The council received 31 objections and 32 letters of support for the application.

The conditions included that the applicant pay for the installation of an eastern boundary acoustic fence and insulation inside the building, and that no music be played inside or outside the centre.

The facility would be open from 8.30am to 11pm, seven days a week.

Permit conditions would also allow for 100 car parking spaces, with a maximum of 100 patrons allowed inside at any one time.

Why did councillors unanimously support the application?

Mahoneys Ward councillor Jason Martin said the benefits of the centre would include reducing social isolation within the community.

“Badminton is a sport that’s suitable for all ages,” he said. “This facility will meet demand, as other venues in the region are at capacity.”

Kingsley Ward councillor Kirsten Langford said noise generated by badminton would be less intrusive than if the site was approved for industrial use.

Why did locals oppose the new facility?

Willis Court resident Kerry spoke at the meeting about how close the family house was to the proposed facility.

“Our house and bedrooms are less than 10 metres away from the site and our private outdoor space is right next to it,” she said. “The thing about this proposal that concerns us the most is the likelihood of excessive noise, and the difficulty we think the applicant will have in adequately mitigating that noise.”

She was also concerned about the extended opening hours.

Kerry and her husband commissioned a review of the expected, which identified technical errors in the council’s acoustic report.

“We can’t know for sure at this stage whether the proposed noise mitigation measures will be effective, but what we do know is that if the modelling on which they’re based is wrong, we will bear the onus and significant cost,” she said.

“That seems unfair, given the potential noise problems are reasonably foreseeable.”

Why do locals support the new centre?

Mitcham resident and local teacher Appley Groch spoke for the motion, saying the proposed facility “represents an excellent opportunity” for the Whitehorse community.

“This sporting centre offers something truly unique in our area,” she said. “It complements the nearby gym, martial arts school and quality cafes.”

She described badminton as “an affordable, easy-to-learn sport that appeals to a wide range of ages and backgrounds”.