Gippsland’s soccer stars of the future will have the chance to hone their skills year round with the addition of a full-size and fully lit FIFA accredited synthetic pitch to the Gippsland Regional Centre of Excellence for Football at Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium complex.
Latrobe City Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss today joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing to officially open the new facility, which is already being enjoyed by local clubs and user groups.
The project was funded as part of a $1.7 million upgrade to the complex through the Victorian Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative administrated by Latrobe Valley Authority.
Without the support of the state government, the project would not have been able to proceed and Council is grateful for the investment in our community’s sporting future.
It comes as a key milestone in a longer term upgrade of the centre, which is seeking a further funding to transform the venue into a high performance regional centre of excellence for soccer and major events venue, in line with council’s master plan for the site.
The project features:
- A full size FIFA ‘Quality’ accredited synthetic pitch
- Includes for 11-a-side, 9-a-side and 7-a-side football (soccer) with removable goals
- Six metre high ball catching net along Crinigan Road
- 100 Lux LED Sports lighting system
Victorian company Turf One Pty Ltd completed the project and was supported by a Project Reference Group consisting of representatives from:
- Football Federation Victoria
- Football Federation Victoria – Referees
- Gippsland Football Club members
- Latrobe Valley Soccer League
- Falcons 2000 Soccer Club members
- Cr Alan McFarlane and Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss, along with Latrobe City Council staff
The redevelopment of the site will ensure improved amenities for local user groups and visitors, as well as increasing its capacity to attract and host major events.
“This project will deliver major benefits to the Latrobe City region making it a highly liveable area and making our region an attractive place to visit, live and work. The capacity to hold events has now increased and I look forward to the synthetic pitch holding some great sporting events” – Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss
“This is the first step in establishing the Latrobe City Sports & Entrainment Stadium as a Gippsland Regional Centre of Excellence for Football (Soccer). I look forward to the next stages being funded and being complete in the near future” – Mayor Cr Graeme Middlemiss
