Published on Wednesday, 26 March 2025 at 4:21:36 PM
At last night’s Special Council Meeting, Council reaffirmed its commitment to securing the remaining external funding for the $27 million redevelopment of Lathlain Park Zone 1, home of the Perth Football Club.
“This decision is about ensuring we find the most sustainable solution that balances the needs of the Town’s ratepayers and residents, with those of the Perth Football Club and the WA Football community. Council continues to support the growth of women’s football, and remains committed to this redevelopment which is a top funding priority for the Town," said Karen Vernon, Town of Victoria Park Mayor.
Since 2019, the Town has been advocating to the State and Federal Governments to secure sufficient funding for this redevelopment, in particular as the project expanded to include the future football aspirations of women and girls. However, rising construction costs – up approximately 40% over the past two years – have significantly impacted its progress.
Despite strong advocacy efforts, the additional $6 million funding committed by the State Government in mid-2024 fell short of the $9.6 million required. Since then, the costs have continued to rise. Without further financial support, the project remains beyond the Town’s sustainable funding capacity, having regard to the Town’s other current and future community infrastructure projects, which already exceed $100 million.
“The Town has already committed $5 million to the redevelopment, and covering the current shortfall would nearly double this commitment, placing an undue financial burden on our ratepayers. Council is not prepared to pass this cost onto our community while advocacy efforts are still underway,” said Mayor Vernon.
Given the State and Federal Government’s clear commitment to supporting football and increasing the participation of women in sports, the Town remains focused on securing the necessary funding through the upcoming state budget and federal election.
Full details from the 25 March Special Council Meeting can be found here.
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