SHARED FACILITIES TACKLE GROWING NEEDS OF JUNIOR SOCCER

To help meet the demand for additional active open space, the City of Mandurah has forged a partnership with the Peel Junior Soccer Association and Falcon Primary School to trial the shared use of Northport Reserve, with access to the school’s toilets, change rooms and car parking.

More than 1500 juniors already participate in soccer every Saturday at Bortolo Reserve in Greenfields and Lawrie Stanford Reserve in Singleton with plans to expand the competition south to Dawesville and east to Pinjarra to accommodate the sport’s anticipated growth.

City of Mandurah Coordinator of Recreation Services Marlene Renton said the City was committed to encouraging junior sport.

“It’s a great physical activity for young people,” Ms Renton said.

“We wanted to be on the front foot in accommodating the predicted growth and needs of our local population, including junior soccer, by identifying and finding ways of fully using other available open space.”

Northport Reserve, which the City has prepared for match play, will be used for junior soccer competition for eight weeks from July 26.

“If the trial is successful, it could lead to a long-term agreement being formalised with Falcon Junior Primary,” Ms Renton said.

The City already shares ovals with a number of schools in Mandurah which are used by local sporting clubs.

Future plans involve the expansion of soccer to Ocean Road Active Open Space with shared facilities between Ocean Road and Dawesville Catholic Primary Schools and the City of Mandurah.

RELEASE ENDS

24 July  2008