Wyndham City Council awards design services contract for new stadium

Wyndham City Council has awarded a $1.21 million contract to design a 5000-capacity football stadium and surrounding facilities in Tarneit, which will become home to A-League team Western United Football Club.

The Council last week announced CO-OP Studio as the successful recipient of the tender to undertake design services for the 1160 Sayers Road North Regional Football Facility.

CO-OP Studio will provide principal consultancy design services for the construction of a 5000-spectator capacity main turf pitch and regional pavilion complex, a secondary full-size rectangular turf pitch, a FIFA Pro synthetic pitch, road access, adjacent carparking and landscaping.

A report to last week’s Council meeting advised that it and the Western Melbourne Group (WMG) were working towards having the project completed in time for Australia’s co-hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

The report said it was hoped the Tarneit football facility could be used as a home base for one of the international teams in the lead up to, and during, the tournament.

Wyndham Councillor Peter Maynard said the Council was keen to start building the stadium “yesterday” but had to go through the required processes first.

Western United presently plays home matches at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong and Mars Stadium in Ballarat, but will relocate to Tarneit once the stadium is built.

Western United’s commitment to construct their own, boutique stadium and develop a surrounding precinct in Melbourne’s growing Western corridor played a key role in WMG being awarded one of two A-League licences on offer during the last round of expansion.

The project received planning approval in January when Victorian State Planning Minister Richard Wynne approved a key amendment that would allow “detailed design of the stadium and development to be finalised and construction timelines to be determined”.

Wyndham City Council has also advised that the $3.8 million redevelopment of the Galvin Park Soccer Pavilion has reached a key milestone, with pavilion B now complete and pavilion A on track for completion in the coming months.

This project includes the demolition of the reserve’s previous pavilion and construction of two new pavilions that include a large community room, six new change rooms that meet modern standards and are welcoming for all genders, a large kitchen and canteen, public toilets and officials’ facilities.

Commenting on this, Councillor Maynard, the Council’s Active City portfolio holder, noted “as our population continues to grow at a rapid rate, it’s important that our community facilities keep pace

“Once complete, the new soccer pavilions will service four soccer pitches and provide a brand new home for the Werribee City Soccer Club.”

Image: Populous' concept for the 5000-capacity Tarneit football stadium.