By BRIDGET COOK
Election pressure aims to kick off new sports complex…
THE City of Casey has grand plans for a sports and soccer hub at Casey Fields to cater for tournaments, carnivals and events.
In the lead-up to the election, the council is seeking a funding commitment from the Federal Government for its proposed Casey Regional Sports Hub and Soccer Centre of Excellence project.
The $26 million project would see Casey Fields become home to a new feature pitch, four community multi-purpose soccer fields and a Regional Sports House.
The council is seeking $13.1 million contribution towards the project to allow it to go ahead.
The feature pitch would include a rectangular field stadium for 4000 people, a pavilion, 500 seat covered grandstand, spectator moulds and car parking.
With a vision for the hub to be the region’s premier rectangular field venue, the council said it would cater for higher level of competition and training for soccer, rugby league, rugby union and gridiron.
The venue would also have four other soccer fields, three synthetic and one natural grass, with eight change rooms incorporated.
The Regional Sports House is designed to accommodate state and local sporting associations, industry bodies, sports related education, sports science, service delivery providers and multicultural youth officers.
The Sports House would have a 50 seat lecture theatre, four internal offices, a 20 seat open work plan area, three meeting and board rooms, overflow social rooms for programs, functions and events and kitchen and amenities.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the council was disappointed the project recently did not receive Regional Development Australia Fund money.
“Council will continue to advocate to the Federal Government for funding towards the project through other funding streams,” she said.
“The proposed $26 million Casey Regional Sports Hub and Soccer Centre of Excellence project is a bold and innovative project that includes a number of multipurpose facilities that will deliver important economic and social outcomes for the entire southern region’s 1.3 million people.
“With 33 key stakeholders registering interest, the Sports House could significantly drive participation and sports development outcomes for the region.
“Located at Casey Fields, the premier outdoor sports facility of Melbourne’s south-east, this project would complement the current sporting and recreation facilities at the 76-hectare site.”
Cr Stapledon said the Federal Government election provided an opportunity for the council to leverage several of Casey’s key advocacy priorities, with this project being high on that priority list.
