Sydenham Park has been flagged as a potential future site for the Victorian ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ of Football and the Australian Female ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ team, the Westfield Matildas.
Brimbank Mayor Cr Lucinda Congreve said Council was notified last month that Sydenham Park was one of five sites that have been shortlisted for further evaluation.
“This will be an amazing development, and we’re keen to submit our best offer for consideration.
“In Brimbank, we have long recognised the power of football in engaging the community.
“As a Council we’ve been doing a lot of work around the needs of the Brimbank community in terms of sports infrastructure and opportunities.
“A facility of this size would bring many benefits to the city including job opportunities, economic development, coaching and development programs and tourism to the area.
“Community access and promoting local women’s and girls’ sport is really important, and a new home for the Matildas could be a perfect fit,” Cr Congreve said.
As a shortlisted potential partner, Council’s ‘best offer’ submission will identify a potential lease of up to 50 years (subject to undertaking a Section 223 Hearings process), with rent in line with Council Policy, and confirm that Sydenham Park has sufficient space to accommodate Football Victoria, subject to a number of considerations including native flora and fauna and cultural heritage significance of the site.
The submission would also be clear that Brimbank would not provide any capital or ongoing operational funds for the project.
Brimbank Council continues to invest heavily on maintaining, renewing and upgrading sports facilities and outdoor playing surfaces locally; and to seek funding and support to accommodate girls and women in sports, and address the high demand for facilities by our community.
We continue to empower and encourage female participation in sport through programs such as Brimbank’s In2Sport sports membership subsidy program, and the Brimbank Female Football Festival.
More than 3200 Brimbank girls and women play organised sport. This number continues to grow.
