The Victorian Government yesterday pledged $12 million in funding toward the approximately $30 million Moorabbin Reserve Redevelopment project.
The State Government’s announcement also paves the way for Kingston Council to confirm its April 2015 resolution to contribute $5 million to the project at the December 14 Ordinary Meeting of Council.
The Government’s funding commitment is a boon for the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) and, more broadly, football in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. The redeveloped Moorabbin Reserve will become a true community ‘football hub’ with the capacity to better service the growth demands of Australia’s national game in Melbourne’s south east region.
The SFNL, South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) and Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup team will all become co-tenants of the ground-breaking new training and match-day facility, co-located with St Kilda Football Club (AFL and VFL) and with shared access to a range of elite training facilities.
The redeveloped Linton Street complex will also be the home ground venue for the planned standalone St Kilda VFL team in 2018. This will make Moorabbin Reserve the only venue in Victoria to host junior and senior community leagues, a TAC Cup Under-18 Program, a VFL team and an elite AFL training facility, incorporating the capacity to host indoor netball.
SFNL Vice Chairman Garry Cranny said he was thrilled that the League were able to a 25-year plus tenancy at the new complex as it will greatly assist the competition’s growth and stability in the years to come.
“Securing the League’s long term future at the Moorabbin Reserve as a stakeholder partner is a wonderful outcome for our administration, umpires and member clubs,” Cranny said.
“It also provides opportunities for greater community participation and a renewed focus on the health and continued development of the game for players, umpires, volunteers and more broadly, AFL fans in the bayside and south-east areas of Melbourne, a large part of which is St Kilda’s traditional heartland.
“Working collaboratively with St Kilda and our ‘grass roots’ pathway partners, we are committed to making this unique ‘football hub’ concept an outstanding success. It is an exciting development for Australian Rules in our region that also addresses our forecast increase in female participation across both football and netball. We believe Moorabbin Reserve can be the integrated AFL model for the rest of Australia.”
The SFNL office will be relocated to temporary accommodation in January 2016 for approximately 18 months while construction of the new Moorabbin Reserve facility is undertaken. The relocated SFNL office location and contact details will be available soon.
