Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino joined Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon OAM, Chief Executive Campbell Rose, Head Coach Rodney Eade, and the playing group at Whitten Oval today to open the Western Bulldogs new Elite Learning Centre.
The Centre, four times the size of the previous players’ facility, is the first stage of the $26M redevelopment at Whitten Oval and marks a special and historic day in the Club’s calendar.
The Elite Learning Centre houses a 30-metre running track, player gym, treatment rooms, and laboratories that accommodate sport scientists from partner Victoria University. State-of-the-art plunge pools are currently being installed and will switch between hot and icy-cold water. Meeting rooms, internet facilities and conference areas provide administrative support to the Bulldogs football operations.
Mr Merlino said the Western Bulldogs had implemented an imaginative plan that focused on a range of issues relevant to the community.
“The opening of the Elite Learning Centre and further development of the Whitten Oval will provide a state of the art facility for the Western Bulldogs and greatly benefit the western region community,” Mr Merlino said.
The Federal Government has contributed $8M towards the overall redevelopment, which has assisted in providing the foundations for the Elite Learning Centre.
The redeveloped Whitten Oval will set a best practice benchmark facility combining elite athletes, sports training facilities and opportunities for the community with facilities including administrative offices, football learning centre and sports science facility and children’s hub.
Western Bulldogs Chief Executive Campbell Rose said the day represented a significant moment in the history of the Club.
“The Western Bulldogs are delighted to have the Minister open our magnificent facility and it is truly a privilege to share the vision that has now become a reality,” said Rose.
“The Whitten Oval redevelopment is now entering its most exciting stage; we have just started the construction phase for the building of the Children’s Hub, and the Club’ main administration headquarters is in its final stages”, he said.
“The Whitten Oval redevelopment is all about re-affirming the roots of this Club in the western region as a community icon, continuing its long and proud tradition and history.
Rose paid significant thanks to all of the other funding partners who have been involved in this project, including the State Government of Victoria, Maribyrnong City Council, the AFL, and the Forever Foundation, and the many individual philanthropists and charitable trusts who have supported the vision.
“With this collaborative funding support, this vision is now becoming a reality.” said Rose.
The Oval will deliver many community benefits including areas for public use such as providing a full running / walking track around the perimeter of the Oval, and improving the aesthetics and amenities after the Maribyrnong Council landscaping program is completed.
Unnecessary, unused stands and infrastructure have been removed to make way for the provision of public toilets and changing room facilities for local organisations and schools to use the Oval.
Along with providing key sports science support to the Western Bulldogs, Victoria University is also investing in sports related infrastructure which will eventually provide a ‘Sports Triangle’ in the West consisting of Maribyrnong Secondary College, the Victoria University redevelopment and Whitten Oval, representing $100M of investment in sport and recreation facilities and education.
The redeveloped E.J Whitten Stand will house public change rooms and a membership and merchandise shop five times the size of the current one.
There will also be allied medical facilities for use by the public. Inside the John Gent Stand will be the new administrative facilities. Meeting rooms will be available for community use and some community groups will be based at the site full-time.
The Children’s Hub will include a 105-place centre that will be run by not-for-profit organisation ECMS servicing the community for the provision of much-needed childcare places in the western region.
