PREMIER SPORTING GROUNDS AT MEADOW SPRINGS

Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey said that when the regional open space project was finalised it would be a top class sporting facility for Mandurah’s community.

“Earthworks began in December 2007 in a partnership with Southern Gateway Alliance, and since then the City’s Infrastructure Development and Cityparks teams have completed the earthworks and installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system which will recycle waste water through a managed aquifer recharge system,” Mayor Creevey said.

“This irrigation system will create great water savings for the City and the environment, and has already been recognised with a state award for best practice water management and nationally through the Parks and Leisure Australia national awards where Cityparks was a finalist.”

Mayor Creevey said once the irrigation system was in place, a City contractor (Turf Master) supplied and placed 60,000 square metres of turf to the playing surface and embankments.

“What a wonderful facility for local sporting groups, particularly the Mandurah Pirates Rugby Club and Mandurah Cricket Club, both of which now have a permanent home ground.  It will also encourage continued growth of both clubs and also give others in the community passive recreational space,” she said.

“A five wicket block turf cricket pitch is also available for use and planning is underway for a club house with the whole project to be completed in 2009.”

The facility is located on Oakmont Avenue, next door to Frederick Irwin Anglican School, and opposite the RAAFA Retirement Estate.

The regional open space project incorporates 4.5 hectares of active sporting reserves and three hectares have been retained for bushland reserve and passive recreation areas. 

The City of Mandurah, which contributed $1 million to the project, secured funding from the WA Department of Sport and Recreation($1.284m), the Federal Government ($1.1m), a voluntary $1 million contribution from Mirvac and $95,000 in Regional Head Works funding.

Mayor Creevey said that two and a half years of planning, community consultation, statutory approvals and funding submissions had gone into the project before the earthworks began last year.

“It is a great example of partnering between Local, State and Federal Governments, and the private sector,” she said.

RELEASE ENDS

24 December 2008