Elite training facility for Western United and community first step

Wyndham City is set to become the sports hub of the west.

A new $25 million elite training facility that includes three pitches – two grass and one synthetic – with seating for 5000 spectators, will be built adjacent to the new 15,000 seat Wyndham City Stadium at 1160 Sayers Road in Tarneit.

The facility will be jointly funded and developed by Wyndham City and the Western Melbourne Group for the shared use of the Western United Football Club and the broader Wyndham community.

“It will include a main grass pitch with 5,000 seats, which will be used by Western United and their associated teams, including W-League and girls and boys Academy teams,” Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Josh Gilligan said.

“As well as being used for football, the facility can also be used for other rectangular sports like rugby league and union. Plans for this state-of-the-art facility also include a second grass pitch, and a third synthetic pitch that will primarily be open to the community.”

“As we begin to approach the COVID-19 recovery phase, large projects like this amazing new sporting precinct will play a central role in ensuring our local economy bounces back, while creating more jobs and providing better community assets.”

“Despite Covid, we are getting on with the job to turn Wyndham into a destination city, a place that attracts sports-lovers, families, businesses and visitors.”

“This new facility will provide jobs and opportunities for Wyndham residents and provide multiple benefits for our community for years to come.”

Director Deals, Investments and Major Projects Kate Roffey said the announcement was a big win for Wyndham, and the west more broadly.

“The whole journey we have been on with Western Melbourne Group – bidding for a new licence for our own team in the west, developing plans to build our own stadium and elite training facility, seeing our team making the A-League finals in their inaugural season is inspiring for Wyndham and the West.”

The elite training facility is the latest announcement for the development project and follows the announcement of Western Melbourne Group’s plan to build Wyndham City Stadium – the home of Western United. The Club completed its inaugural season in August with an elimination-final win and their captain, Alessandro Diamanti, being awarded the A-League Player of the Year.

Chairman of Western United Football Club Jason Sourasis said the announcement today is fantastic news for the Club.

“Building the Western United Football Club and growing the game of football in the west has always been the ambitious vision of all involved in the project,” Sourasis said.

“This partnership between Western Melbourne Group and the Wyndham City Council is a ground-breaking initiative in Australia – it’s built on effort, collaboration and building for the future, which are the values that we’ve built Western United on and the values that our fans share.”

“The training precinct is all about the growth of the sport, the ability for kids to train close to their A-League heroes, and for football in the west to have a strong pathway from junior football to the elite level – there’s more kids playing football than any other sport in this country so we’re really proud to be able to build this amazing facility for the kids of the west.

“Today’s announcement is the first of many to come that will start to bring our vision to life. We can’t wait to see our fans at Wyndham City Stadium in the near future.

Western Melbourne Group’s commitment to the project is substantive.

“We have spent in excess of $10 million on the planning application process so far, in addition to the near $20 million invested to secure our professional A-League licence. Today, we achieve another milestone in our precinct development and for the people of the west,” Sourasis said.

To date, all on site investigations (including but not limited to, geotechnical, economic benefit, traffic, cultural heritage, flora and fauna, site services, infrastructure, etc.) have been completed as required to develop a concept masterplan for 1160 Sayers Road North. The concept masterplan, developed in collaboration with Wyndham City Council, forms part of a planning submission that has been submitted to DELWP for approval. The application is currently being assessed with an outcome expected in the near future.

Construction on the new precinct will commence in early 2021, to be completed by early 2023.

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