Cade Lucas
A-League club Western United took another step towards finally building their own stadium on Tuesday night, when Wyndham council approved a key planning document for the Tarneit site.
Wyndham Stadium Precinct Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) attracted unanimous support at a meeting of Wyndham council on March 26.
Prepared by consultants Global South, Arup and LatStudios, the ISP seeks to integrate the future A-League stadium on Sayers Road, with the surrounding area, particularly the Sayers Road Railway station and the Riverdale Major Town Centre (MTC) development, both located to the south.
Key features of the document include three neighbourhoods anchored by the Riverdale MTC, Sayers Road Station and stadium; connectivity between each neighbourhood through both road connections and ‘green corridors’; higher density development along the main road boulevards; concept plans for walkable 20 minute neighbourhoods and the realignment of Sayers Road and relocation of the future Sayers Road railway closer to the town centre and A-League stadium.
Speaking in support, councillor Peter Maynard said being able to integrate an A-League stadium into the development of the broader area was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity,’ that his predecessors on council deserved credit for.
“I’d also like to, again, thanks to councillors in previous terms who gave us the opportunity, or I should say had the foresight through officer recommendation to purchase the land. It gave us the opportunity to do what we’re trying to do.”
Western United chairman Jason Sourasis said he was delighted with council’s decision.
“This is another significant step forward in our vision to create Melbourne’s first sport and recreation-based city alongside our partners,” he said.
“Our move to our new home at the Regional Football Facility in Tarneit has been a great success so far and we are looking ahead to the next stage of our plan, including the construction of our 15,000-capacity stadium and surrounding infrastructure.”
Western United’s women’s team recently hosted their first game at the regional football facility in Tarneit and their men’s team are due to do the same when they host Macarthur at the venue on Saturday April 6.
The regional football facility will eventually become Western United’s training base once the stadium is built.
Wyndham council is a partner of Western United.
