Football Victoria (FV) applauds the City of Greater Geelong’s support and plans for a proposed multi-sport hub in Armstrong Creek West, and Regional Football Facility in Geelong.
Reports have identified the need for the Armstrong Creek facility as an immediate priority for delivery – with surrounding areas anticipating significant participation increase – on top of current bursting demand.
The City has identified the Armstrong Creek West Precinct as the preferred site for the multi-sport hub, which will feature multi-use playing fields, LED sports lighting, a shared community pavilion with all-gender change rooms, and a dedicated ‘show pitch’ for football (soccer) suitable for premier-level competitions such as NPL and NPLW.
Armstrong Creek is set to experience a population increase of 117% by 2031, with 45% of new football participants in the region expected to come from this area. Despite rapid growth, only 10% of the City’s current football facilities are located in Armstrong Creek — and projections indicate a need for at least nine new pitches by 2031 to meet demand.
Additionally, Geelong remains the biggest Victorian region without a dedicated football hub – currently behind provision ratios and capacity when compared to Victoria’s other major regional cities like Ballarat, Shepparton, Wodonga, and their respective venues in Morshead Park, John McEwen Reserve and Baranduda Fields respectively.
The further proposed Regional Football Facility in the North of Geelong could feature up to 8 pitches providing a genuine home of football within the greater region, and a main pitch with a 1,000-2,000-seat grandstand, which could be temporarily expanded to 5,000 seats for special events.
Initial 2022 forecasts for the Geelong region expected participation increases of 21 per cent in the next five years. However, participation has already significantly surpassed these estimates, prompting the need to explore options for an increase in infrastructure and facilities in Geelong.
As has been the story across the state, the growth of the game in the women and girls space has rapidly increased. Female participation in football has more than doubled in Geelong since 2015, and is expected to increase by another 40 per cent by 2041.
Hamlyn Heights Ward Councillor and Chair of Sports and Recreation Eddy Kontelj believes the proposed regional facilities will help continue that growth in the region.
“With our region’s population and soccer’s popularity increasing, we need bigger and better facilities to allow the sport to expand.”
“As Council’s Sports and Recreation portfolio chair, and a keen supporter of local sports, I intend to continue championing this cause.”
Councillor Kontelj earmarked Armstrong Creek, a suburb 10km south of Geelong’s city centre, as a potential location for the proposed hub.
“Almost half of all new soccer participants by 2031 will live in the Armstrong Creek growth area, which is already home to the new and rapidly-expanding Armstrong United Football Club.”
“Which is why the City of Greater Geelong has completed strategic planning demonstrating the need for a multi-sports hub in Armstrong Creek West.”
Hopes for these facilities and what they can bring to the region are high, and that extends beyond the increase in spaces for the sport to be played at the community level.
The 5,000-seat exhibition pitch could allow National Premier League, A-League and even international matches to be played in Geelong, further unlocking the future potential of the region.
“Upgrades like these are essential for supporting the growth of sport in our region, however, like most large-scale infrastructure projects, they require support from multiple levels of government, and potentially other relevant stakeholders, such as land developers.”
“I look forward to working on these projects with our local federal and state MPs in coming years to shape the future of soccer in our city.”