Showcasing the ‘World Game’

GEELONG is ripe to host the “World Game” at every level!

Soccer is growing at exponential rates in Geelong. Initial 2022 forecasts expected participation increases of 21 per cent in the next five years, however, according to Football Geelong, participation has already surpassed these estimates.

Women’s and girls’ soccer is booming, which is little surprise given the Matildas’ nation-inspiring World Cup run in 2023.

Female participation in soccer has more than doubled in Geelong since 2015, and is expected to increase by another 40 per cent by 2041.

With our region’s population and soccer’s popularity increasing, we need bigger and better facilities to allow the sport to expand.

As Council’s Sports and Recreation portfolio chair, and a keen supporter of local sports, I intend to continue championing this cause.

Almost half of all new soccer participants by 2031 will live in the Armstrong Creek growth area, which is already home to the new and rapidly-expanding Armstrong United Football Club.

Which is why the City of Greater Geelong has completed strategic planning demonstrating the need for a multi-sports hub in Armstrong Creek West.

The hub would include several multi-use playing fields serving as soccer pitches in the winter and a dedicated show pitch, which could host elite competition such as men’s and women’s National Premier Leagues Victoria matches.

And planning is underway for an even bigger regional soccer hub in our city’s north.

Geelong is Victoria’s fastest growing regional city, and planned growth areas to our city’s north and west are set to be home to about 110,000 people by 2041 – that’s roughly the entire population of Victoria’s next largest city, Ballarat.

Yet, unlike Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton, our city has no dedicated regional soccer hub.

The City is currently investigating several options for a regional hub, including new locations and redeveloping existing facilities.

The hub would feature several soccer pitches, and a main pitch with a 1,000-2,000-seat grandstand, which could be temporarily expanded up to 5,000 seats for special events.

The site would be the regional home of soccer for Geelong and the broader G21 region. It would allow Geelong to host regional and national tournaments, offer greater opportunities for participation and programs at all levels of the game – including player and coach development, and could even host occasional A-League and international matches.

Both these projects are vital for the long-term expansion of soccer in our region, and will support growth in a variety of other sports.

As a Council, the health and wellbeing of our community is central to everything we do, and few things keep people healthy, fit and socially-connected like sport.

Upgrades like these are essential for supporting the growth of sport in our region, however, like most large-scale infrastructure projects, they require support from multiple levels of government, and potentially other relevant stakeholders, such as land developers.

I look forward to working on these projects with our local federal and state MPs in coming years to shape the future of soccer in our city.

And who knows – maybe some day these facilities will support the development of the next Sam Kerr, Tim Cahill, Josip Skoko or Steve Horvat right here in Geelong.

As always, I am happy to speak to anyone on Council-related matters. Please see below my contact details:

Phone: 0455 532 006

Email: [email protected]

Cr Eddy Kontelj

Hamlyn Heights Ward,

City of Greater Geelong