The City of Whittlesea recently became home to Australia’s first ‘Soccer Real’ synthetic turf soccer pitch, enabling local clubs to continue playing sport during the drought.
Officially opened in July, Council worked with local contractor TigerTurf to install the world class synthetic pitch.
Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Elizabeth Nealy, said the pitch features the latest development in synthetic yarns and has been laboratory tested to a two star grading from FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football).
“It is the first synthetic ground of this standard to be built in Australia, with only one other constructed in the United Kingdom,” she said. “The surface imitates the look, feel and play of a natural grass surface, without the need for watering, and will lead to savings of three million litres of water annually.”
Mayor Nealy said the $740,000 synthetic soccer pitch is also illuminated by competition standard lighting to maximise usage. In addition, she said that the pitch has not been allocated to any
one club, but is shared by all soccer clubs.
“Whittlesea is home to six different soccer clubs and a premier league, many of which field junior and senior teams in a number of age divisions,” the Mayor said. “These clubs occupy about 20 different sporting fields for training and competition play each week.
“A roster has been developed, enabling the ground to be used five nights a week between 4pm and 11pm by local clubs. It is also available for school use on weekdays and club competition at the weekends.
“Allowing clubs to train on the new facility reduces the ‘wear and tear’ on their home grounds, all of which are feeling the stress of the ongoing drought conditions.”
Council has now allocated a further $1.13 million in its 2008/2009 budget to construct two new synthetic sports grounds at a local secondary college in partnership with the school and Victorian Government.
Mayor Nealy said these grounds will be built to accommodate local junior soccer, junior cricket and Australian Rules Football training.
“With the increasing demand for improved recreation facilities, the ongoing drought and water restrictions for public sports grounds, Council decided that construction of synthetic grounds is a more viable, sustainable option,” she said.
