Fremantle Dockers to benefit from completed Cockburn ARC Evolution facilities

Elite facilities for the AFL's Fremantle Dockers have been officially opened.

Part of the ARC Evolution project, announced 18 months ago in a partnership between the City of Cockburn and Fremantle Football Club, the project delivered improvements to both the Cockburn ARC health club and Fremantle Dockers facilities.

The milestone was marked at a ribbon-cutting event held on Thursday 4th September at Cockburn ARC’s Victor George Kailis Oval as the men’s AFL team held a training session to prepare for their AFL elimination final match.

The Fremantle Football Club AFLW and Community Changeroom Expansion Project facilities - developed at a cost of $7.4 million (within the overall project cost of $9.6 million) include:

• AFLW changerooms

• Changerooms to support community sporting programs

• An undercover 250-seat spectator terrace

• A multipurpose space to support education and community programs.

The $7.4 million project cost was split between Fremantle Football Club ($4.3 million), the Western Australian Government ($2.5 million), WA Football Commission ($350,000) and the AFL ($300,000).

City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the project was significant for the whole community, particularly due to the benefits of increased inclusive access to the facility for women’s sports, commenting "not only are we enabling more people to enjoy the new and enhanced facilities at Cockburn ARC we are proudly supporting the further enhancement of women’s sport.

“The new AFLW changerooms, community changerooms, a multipurpose community room and space for spectators is another step towards the facility becoming a match venue to suit various levels of football.

“The achievement of this ambitious project for our community is testament to the successful partnership between the City and the Fremantle Dockers.

“ARC’s health club improvements were completed in July and have been monumental for members.

“The feedback we have received so far has been incredibly positive as we make it easier for more people to embrace healthy lifestyle choices here in Cockburn.”  

Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister, Rita Saffioti added "the upgraded changerooms at Cockburn ARC are a fantastic example of how the WA Government is delivering female-friendly infrastructure through PlayOn WA - ensuring communities have the spaces they need to thrive.

“This is a great outcome for the Fremantle Dockers and their AFLW program - purpose-built, inclusive facilities like these ensure our elite women’s teams have the support they need to train, recover and perform at their best.

“We want to see more women and girls playing sport, coaching, umpiring and leading - and that starts with the right facilities. This is about building safe, inclusive spaces that support everyone’s participation.

“We’re levelling the playing field - giving women and girls the opportunity to take part in sport with the same quality facilities as everyone else.”

Images: The oval at the Cockburn ARC (top, credit: Carabiner Architects) and Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti tours the new facility (below).