West Coast Eagles want $40 million for elite training facility

The West Coast Eagles AFL franchise have reportedly launched a bid for up to $40 million in Government funding for their proposed elite training centre at Lathlain Park in Perth's inner east.

According to a report in The West Australian newspaper, the Eagles recently hosted a dinner in Canberra urging politicians to support the project.

Estimated to cost between $50 million and $60 million depending on the level of Western Australian and Federal Government, the development will will include facilities for soldiers injured on military service and house the David Wirrpanda Foundation supporting indigenous people. The West Australian suggests that these elements are seen as being critical to showing a community component in the project as the club presses its case for funding.

The Eagles, who are likely to commit about $20 million of their own funds to the project, will also contribute $1 million to help the Perth Football Club establish a new headquarters on the site, with $1 million towards other facilities the Town of Victoria Park plans as part of the project.

The council and West Coast established a heads of agreement last year and are expected to finalise lease arrangements for the centre in the first half of this year.

West Coast Chairman Alan Cransberg confirmed to The West Australian that the Eagles last week entertained 50 people at a function at Parliament House, then hosted a dinner at Canberra's Hyatt Hotel.

Players Nic Naitanui and Beau Waters, inaugural Eagles skipper and 1983 Brownlow medallist Ross Glendinning and 2006 premiership player Wirrpanda were among those who attended.

West Coast board member, Corrective Services Department Head and former Special Air Services commeander James McMahon was present to explain the proposed facilities for injured SAS personnel, which would be established by support group the SAS Resources Trust.

Cransberg, Eagles Chief Executive Trevor Nisbett, Chief Operating Officer Richard Godfrey, and Special Projects Manager Digby Moullin, who will steer the project, attended the event along with former Director Julie Bishop, who stepped down from the Eagles board after becoming Foreign Affairs Minister last year.

Cransberg told The West Australian that th Club hoped for between $15 million and $20 million each from the Western Australian and Federal Governments but had not discussed a time frame. The Eagles would like the centre to be in operation about the time the new Burswood Stadium opened in 2018.

Cransberg stated "we have just got to make sure they (governments) understand the community value of our proposal."

6th September 2012 - SCALPERS EXPLOIT WEST COAST EAGLE’S HOME FINAL 

20th November 2011 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS NEXT BIG NAMES IN WA SPORT 

6th September 2011 - VENUESWEST HOSTS NEW HOME FOR RUGBY IN WA

12th August 2011 - TOP TRACK AND FIELD STARS TO SHINE IN WA INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS MEET

9th June 2011 - FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WA SPORT

27th July 2009 - ALL NEW ATHLETICS STADIUM FOR PERTH