Call for review into soccer facilities

Warragul United Soccer Club president Peter O’Dea has told Baw Baw Shire not to forget the club in council’s new recreation strategy.

After dropping down the priority list since the previous recreation strategy lapsed in 2015, Mr O’Dea reminded council that soccer was the fastest growing sport in the municipality and existing facilities needed to be reviewed.

“Twelve years ago we had a high priority on our soccer club. It has taken 10 to 12 years for that not to take place and now we are a medium priority in the draft strategy,” he said.

Mr O’Dea said even if there was a turnover of councillors and officers, new soccer facilities should have remained a priority within the strategy.

“The soccer club doesn’t want to be forgotten again.

“A synthetic pitch is our priority for the next 10 years. Without that, our numbers will drop. We have already lost a heap of juniors,” he said.

Mr O’Dea said senior teams playing in the state one league were unable to play on the club’s Warragul ground at Baxter Park if there is water or puddles on the pitch.

Mr O’Dea previously raised concerns during council’s budget submissions process in June this year.

He asked why a $2.5 million request for a synthetic soccer pitch in Warragul had dropped off council’s infrastructure priorities.

At the time, Mr O’Dea told councillors the club wanted answers on an undelivered business case for new grounds; and, why the project had dropped off council’s infrastructure radar.

In the new recreation strategy recently adopted by council, the synthetic soccer pitch is was listed as a medium priority in council’s action plan.

The strategy states council will undertake detailed designs for a synthetics pitch and pursue funding opportunities to deliver the project to improve short term capacity in Warragul.

A Football Federation Victoria facilities strategy suggested Baw Baw Shire would require an additional two to three pitches by 2026 based on current and projected participation levels and projected growth of five per cent.

It also identified that lighting of Baw Baw pitches was a priority and suggested Warragul should be considered for a synthetic pitch.

“Consideration will need to be given to providing adequate facilities in the future,” council’s recreation strategy states.

“This may not necessarily need the development of new greenfield sites, but more likely the adaption of existing facilities to enable them to cater for the sport.

“A synthetic field in Warragul will reduce the demand for new facilities in the short term due to the ability to improve carrying capacity and is supported by Football Federation Victoria,” the strategy said.

The Warragul and Drouin precinct structure plans identify development of at least eight new soccer fields over a 30 year period.