Football West looks to multiple artificial turf installations

The recent opening of Western Australia’s first full-size artificial turf football field at the City of Gosnells’ Mills Park in Beckenham appears to mark the start of a trend for a number of other installations in metropolitan Perth.

With changing climatic conditions and an increased demand for high quality pitches Football West recognises the increased interest in synthetic playing surfaces, with plans for similar fields at Ellenbrook and Murdoch.

Speaking after the opening of the artificial turf pitches as part of the first stage of the $47 million Mills Park redevelopment, Football West acting Chief Executive Keith Wood said the move was good for the game.

Wood told The West Australian “player registrations continue to grow, which, of course, means our clubs require more and more space.

“In recent years, we’ve had some clubs that are unable to accommodate the demand for places simply because they don’t have enough grounds.

“Artificial surfaces are able to cope with a lot more traffic, which means more players are out there kicking a ball.”

Beckenham Angels Soccer Club President Paul Grove said growth in women’s football meant more teams were trying to play on existing pitches.

Grove explained “you get a lot of mud and holes and upkeep issues.

“Synthetics give you a smooth playing surface all year round and you don’t have to worry about the grass.

“From a club perspective, we have the potential that our 13-year-old juniors all the way up to our State premiers will do home training and home matches on synthetic and most of the time playing away they will be on turf, so they’ll get to know both surfaces,” he said.

WA Local Government Association President Lynne Craigie said councils were coming under increasing pressure in the provision of local playing facilities to meet their community’s needs, while facing a reduction in funding sources such as the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund.

Craigie stated “we support councils in exploring options that ensure their facilities continue to deliver a positive experience to local communities and will continue to advocate for adequate funding to allow them to do so.”

The Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation has issued guidance artificial turf and natural grass applications.

Click here to view the WADSR guidance.

3rd June 2016 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PREMIER SAYS NEW MILLS PARK COMPLEX SETS A ‘BENCHMARK’ FOR SPORTING FACILITIES

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16th April 2015 - NEW GUIDANCE ON SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACE PROVISION AND USAGE