$2m pledged for Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility

BY DAVID BREHAUT
27 May, 2011 02:39 PM

THE State Government has pledged $2 million for the second stage of the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility at Morshead Park.

Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty announced the funding this morning while officially opening a new synthetic pitch, which marks the first phase of the facility.

The Coalition promised the $2m during last year's election campaign.

The next stage will feature the development of two-storey clubrooms and a pitch with lighting.

It is still to be determined whether the playing surface will be natural turf or synthetic.

Ballarat City Council has placed $500,000 in its 2011-12 draft budget for the project.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/2m-pledged-for-ballarat-regional-soccer-facility/2177250.aspx

$2m for Morshead Park soccer project

BY DAVID BREHAUT
27 May, 2011 12:19 AM

THE core of the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility development at Morshead Park is on target to be in use within 12 months.

The state government yesterday gave the green light for the next phase – a two-storey pavilion and fully lit main pitch – with a $2? million pledge.

The announcement by Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty fulfills a promise made by the Coalition in last year’s state election campaign.

Ballarat City Council has also placed $500,000 in its 2011-12 draft budget for stage two of the project.

The council has advertised for tenders for the pavilion. They close on June 15.

The plan is to have the showcase pitch and pavilion, which will feature change rooms, administrative offices and function-room seating more than 250 people, completed by April next year.

Mr Delahunty also joined Ballarat mayor Craig Fletcher to open stage one of the complex – a synthetic pitch with lighting.

Once the $9 million facility is completed, this will be the number-two playing surface.

Ballarat’s first synthetic soccer pitch was constructed with a $1 million grant from the previous state Labor government and $400,000 from Ballarat City Council and has already been used extensively since November last year.

Mr Delahunty said the soccer facility was a truly regional centre, with Ballarat clubs and schools, and players from further afield already being beneficiaries.

He said the soccer community was under pressure to meet the demands being put on it by a 40 per cent growth in participants in Football Federation Victoria since 2008.

Mr Delahunty highlighted that the new pavilion would cater for male and female players.

He said facilities for women were not always up to the standards required these days.

Ballarat Red Devils, Ballarat Academy of Soccer and Ballarat District Soccer Association, with the backing of Football Federation Victoria, are driving the project.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/general/2m-for-morshead-park-soccer-project/2177624.aspx

He said the soccer community was under pressure to meet the demands being put on it by a 40 per cent growth in participants in Football Federation Victoria since 2008.

:shock: :shock:
Fuck! Really?!

On topic, TigerTurf ftw. They're laying them at primary schools around Canberra from what I understand, as a way of drought-proofing the place.