Brimbank Mayor, Cr Georgina Papafotiou today congratulated the Matildas and La Trobe University on the announcement of a preferred location for the new permanent base for the Australian women’s soccer team, the Home of the Matildas.
Cr Papafotiou acknowledged the positivity and hard work of council staff and the local community in propelling Brimbank’s bid for Sydenham Park to become the Home of the Matildas.
La Trobe University’s Bundoora Sports Park has just been announced as the preferred site as part of $1.5 million Victorian Government funding to start planning works for the Home for the Matildas as well as space for a State Rugby Union Centre.
‘A big thank you to everyone involved in Brimbank’s bid to help make Sydenham Park the Home of the Matildas in the lead-up to the Women’s World Cup in 2023,’ Cr Papafotiou said.
‘We can proudly say that our advocacy work has put Sydenham Park on the map for future investment opportunities, including around sport, active recreation, eco-tourism and more.
‘We would not have been one of the final sites considered without the enthusiasm of our community in Brimbank and the hard work of council staff, and this is to be commended.
‘Council’s ongoing work has helped to outline the opportunities - strategic, economic, employment, indigenous, environmental, conservation and biodiversity enhancement – for Sydenham Park, and create a pathway forward to activating the potential of this precinct.’
‘Our submission was exclusively focussed on football and didn’t consider the co-location with another code. It looks like the goal posts shifted and I’m not sure how much co-located sports influenced the outcome.
‘We wish to congratulate La Trobe University and the Matildas on the proposed new facility, which would be a huge win for women’s football in Victoria – and of course, wish the Matildas all the very best in their quest to take out a home World Cup trophy in 2023!’
‘At Brimbank, we’re excited about the future of women’s sport, and are continuing in our work to advocate for new sporting facilities, including for football, at both a professional and local grassroots level, to get more women and girls participating in sport. Watch this space!’