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The Western Australian Government has announced plans for the construction of a new State Netball Centre.

The new $26 million facility, to be built at the Matthews Netball Centre in Floreat, will include four world-standard indoor netball courts and office space for Netball WA. The facility will enable State league matches to be played at a single venue, help the sport further promote itself and keep girls and young women active.

Explaining the plan, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett stated “netball is the number one participation sport for women in Western Australia and is the backbone of female participation in many WA country towns.

“Each week more than 100,000 people attend netball courts as players, coaches, umpires, officials, administrators, volunteers and spectators. With more than 800 affiliated netball clubs in WA, a facility of this standard is long overdue.

"It is time that enthusiastic netball players have a modern place to train and play.”

The West Coast Fever will continue to play at Challenge Stadium. International tests will be played at the Perth Arena in the near future.

Construction of the new facility is scheduled to commence in mid-2012. When complete, it will be managed by VenuesWest.

Meanwhile, Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron has helped begin the construction of a new, world-class rugby facility for Western Australia.

The $10 million rugby facility is the final stage of a three-pronged sports development in the Mount Claremont sporting precinct being led by the Western Australia Department of Sport and Recreation and VenuesWest, which has already delivered a new WA Athletics Stadium and WA Basketball Centre.

Minister Waldron explained “combined with the already-operational WA Athletics Stadium and WA Basketball Centre, the rugby facility is another piece in the State Government’s delivery of a world- standard sports park to replace Perry Lakes’ outdated facilities.

“The rugby centre replaces Rugby WA’s facility at Perry Lakes, which is to be demolished to make way for residential development. It will include administration space for Rugby WA and indoor training facilities, with gymnasium space and change rooms.”

Esslemont has been awarded the contract to build the facility, which the Minister said was expected to take 12 months and ticked all the boxes environmentally and in regard to disability access.

Minister Waldron added “as with its accompanying athletics and basketball facilities, the rugby facility incorporates environmentally-sustainable design initiatives such as photovoltaic cells for power generation, solar passive design, and low energy lighting.

“Also, the gym and change room facilities include enhanced accessibility provisions to ensure people with disabilities can take full advantage of the new facilities.”

Rugby WA has praised plans for the new facility, and is currently in negotiations with VenuesWest regarding lease and tenancy arrangements. Negotiations will be resolved prior to the completion of the facility.

Rugby WA Chairman Geoff Stooke is delighted to have the project come to fruition, and thanked the State Government and in particular the Department of Sport and Recreation for its assistance.

“The planning has been thorough and precise and the building of this world-class facility is another significant milestone in rugby’s proud history in Western Australia.

“Going forward it will provide the administrative and training headquarters to properly support both our professional team, the Emirates Western Force, and our community rugby base.”

Minister Waldron said the new facility would not only serve WA rugby for many years to come and provide an enormous boost to the game in WA, it would also encourage participation in the sport at all levels.

He concluded “behind the building of facilities such as this is an overarching goal to provide the platform for West Australians to participate and excel in their chosen sport, creating healthier and happier individuals and stronger and safer communities in the process.

“I can’t wait to see the facility completed and making a difference to the sport of rugby in our State, and to the lives of West Australians.”

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