The State Government and the AFL have matched the funding meaning the total refurbishment cost will be in the vicinity of $1.2 million.
""As an elite sporting club, our community strategy revolves around strengthening communities through sport. A strong and vibrant Windy Hill precinct will assist us in delivering on this objective to the benefit of all and cement our community programs moving forward,"" Essendon CEO Peter Jackson said.
""This is a fantastic initiative from the State Government and the AFL and we congratulate them on this injection of funding. Essendon Football Club has matched the contribution to ensure the re-developed Cookson Stand becomes a community asset of great benefit in the years ahead.
""By the end of this year, Essendon Football Club will have spent in excess of $15 million on the Windy Hill precinct since we moved our home games to the MCG in 1993. We have done this to protect the heritage and tradition of this club and to ensure the Windy Hill precinct remains viable and attractive to the local community. A re-developed Cookson Stand will further enhance its appeal as a community hub.""
The Windy Hill Cookson Stand development is part of a major State Government / AFL push to upgrade facilities at Melbourne’s suburban grounds. The total cost of the project is $55 million funding.
The Premier, Steve Bracks, and the AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, today announced the Victorian AFL Club Facilities Funding Program at Punt Road Oval.
Mr Bracks said the State Government was delighted to contribute $14 million to the approximately $55 million program to upgrade grounds and facilities for seven Melbourne-based AFL clubs.
""This program will transform existing club facilities into multi-purpose sport and recreation venues suitable for a range of community activities,"" Mr Bracks said.
""It will improve the performance of our AFL clubs and offer more opportunities for the clubs to connect with the community.
""The program will be used to upgrade training facilities and administration offices, and provide new meeting spaces, function rooms and recreational facilities for local community groups,"" he said.
Mr Demetriou said the AFL’s $10.3 million contribution towards the program over three years would ensure Victorian AFL clubs had facilities to match the professionalism and strength of Australia’s number one sport and enable all Melbourne-based clubs to compete with facilities of the non-Victorian clubs.
""This will improve the on-field performance of our clubs but, importantly, it will also improve the connection between football and the community and continue to build football as a major participant in the economic and social fabric of Victoria,"" Mr Demetriou said.
Mr Demetriou said the facilities at Punt Road Oval, Princes Park, Moorabbin Reserve, Windy Hill, Victoria Park, Waverley Park and Arden Street had become run down since they stopped being used for AFL games.
""The redevelopment of these seven facilities will help make them a focus for their local communities and support the AFL clubs they’re associated with,"" Mr Demetriou said.
The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, said the Victorian AFL Club Facilities Funding Program was a great example of a successful partnership between governments, sports bodies and communities working to increase sport and recreation opportunities for all Victorians.
""This program was developed in partnership with clubs and local councils to ensure it meets community needs,"" Mr Madden said.
""It continues the ongoing partnership between the AFL and the Bracks Government, which has resulted in the $26 million upgrade to Kardinia Park, the current $17 million redevelopment of Whitten Oval and the $10 million Country Football and Netball Program, supporting rural and regional football and netball clubs.""
Mr Madden said the Victorian AFL Club Funding Program, launched at Moorabbin last September, allowed clubs to submit proposals for:
· training facilities,
· upgraded administration areas,
· community facilities like meeting spaces and shared offices, and
· grandstand decommissioning.
The AFL reviewed the funding applications from the clubs before approaching the State Government for consideration.
Funding for the Victorian AFL Club Facilities Funding Program includes:
State Government: $14.00 million
AFL: $10.30 million
Local councils: $15.50 million
Clubs: $15.35 million
TOTAL $55.15 million
