Photo: Metro president Darrin Chaffey, Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley, Andrew Wilkie MHR and Mayor of Glenorchy Kristie Johnston at today's announcement at North Chigwell [PlessPix]
The
largest single investment in Tasmanian football was announced at North Chigwell
today with the Federal Government granting $12.8 million for the construction
of a Northern Suburbs Junior Football Hub at Metro’s ground.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley
and FT Director Jim Lange joined MP Andrew Wilkie to announce the $12.8 million
in Federal Government funding.
Also present were Mayor of
Glenorchy City Council, Ald Kristie Johnston, Metro FC President Darrin Chaffey
and Northern Suburbs Junior Soccer Association President Bianca Tolputt.
The grant will fully fund the
construction of a Junior Football Hub that will boast five separate pitches,
two of them with a synthetic surface.
In addition, the new facility will
have high-quality lighting, new female-friendly change rooms, a function
centre, spectator stand and increased car parking.
Photo: The North Chigwell ground which will be redeveloped [PlessPix]
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley
said the new facility would be a “game changer” for the sport.
“FT is absolutely delighted with
the result Mr Wilkie has secured and we’re very grateful to the Federal
Government for the injection of funds into football.
"This is a wonderful outcome
for football more broadly, but in particular for the children and families in
the Northern Suburbs.
"This is an absolute
game-changer for football in this region in particular.
“A centralised hub at North
Chigwell will help accommodate existing and future participation growth in
football and facilitate improved community and health outcomes in the area.
“This funding will complement the
State Government ‘Ticket to Play’ initiative by enhancing access to sporting
facilities, and removing some of the practical barriers that exist in terms of
families being able to transport their children to football.”
“More than 18% of the population in
the Glenorchy Council area are aged 0-14, which means football has enormous
capacity for growth.
“There are over 11,000 people under
the age of 18 and this upgraded facility will ensure we can accommodate this.
Photo: Andrew Wilkie, Darrin Chaffey, Kristie Johnston and Matt Bulkeley look at the plan for the redevelopment [PlessPix]
“Metro FC is a growing club across
all areas. They will have two senior
women’s teams this year alone, together with men’s, youth and junior teams.
“New facilities for them will make
it a much more comfortable environment for all players - male
and female - given the availability of multiple change
rooms.
“As well as providing access
benefits, the new hub will enhance the game-day atmosphere, with hundreds of
children playing football at the same time in the same location increasing
community engagement and togetherness.
“The new facilities at North
Chigwell will also allow for even more local community and sporting groups to
access facilities without needing to travel too far away from home”
Bulkeley said that he was extremely
encouraged by what today's announcement meant for the future of the game in
Tasmania.
"We’re really excited to see
the recent announcements for football,” he said.
“As the most played sport in
Tasmania, we have a number of projects around the state we have been working
with our clubs to secure funding for, so to get such a major one fully funded
is a tremendous result for our sport."
Bulkeley said he was confident this
would help drive further growth and allow more Tasmanian's access to play the
game.
“A lack of grass and access to
pitch time is the biggest barrier to growth for a number of our clubs around
the State, so investment in projects such as this will really help us
accommodate further growth.”
Andrew
Wilkie said it was now up to Football Tasmania and the Glenorchy City Council
to get the paperwork for the grant through before the Government goes into
caretaker mode before a general election.
He
also had a swipe at Football Federation Australia for ignoring Tasmania’s bid
for entry into the A-League.
He
said FFA seemed more intent on cannibalising existing support in Melbourne and
Sydney instead of admitting a regional area such as Tasmania.
Photo: Mayor of Glenorchy Kristie Johnston addresses the gathering at North Chigwell today [PlessPix]
4 comments:
FFA are scared of tassie having a team .because if we build a ground like Broadfield stadium rectangular close to pitch with about 6000 fans like Crawley .the atmosphere would be bouncing & mainlanders would love it here for an away trip plus weather conditions better
When will you get it. As I have stated publicly before when asked all this A league talk is just nonsense. It is spin propagated by those that have a what they think to be vested interest. Please people wake up and support the local league because that is the only league you will see here in your life time.
that is amazing
Well said.
At last someone with some intelligence.
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