Mildura Rural City Council is in the box seat to secure an AFLW or AFL preseason game at the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct (MSRSP) as early as 2022.
More than 20,000 square metres of turf is scheduled to be rolled out on the MSRSP's main sporting oval by the end of 2020, which should be mature enough to host high-level competition by the start of the 2022 AFL preseason and AFLW season. This matter was considered by Councillors at a Confidential Special Meeting held last week.
The turf roll-out complements an upgrade to competition lighting at the site. Four 500-lux lighting towers were erected around the oval in November.
The Richmond Football Club has previously flagged its desire to host AFL preseason and AFLW games at the MSRSP in 2022 and Council has worked to ensure facilities at the precinct meet AFL standards. Council will now work with the 2020 Premiers to host a match here in 2022.
Mildura Mayor Jason Modica said attracting an AFL preseason or AFLW game to the Mildura South site presented untold potential and opportunities for the region.
"Not only would it showcase our region at a national level, it would also prove a win for the local economy," Cr Modica said.
"Getting our first big sporting event would also increase our chances of hosting similar, large-scale sporting events at the site in the future."
The oval will be also be ready in time for the 2022 Sunraysia Football Netball League preseason, when the South Mildura Sporting Club will officially call the precinct home.
The roll-out turf used by Council has been carefully selected to suit our region's weather conditions, and is expected to be established in 12 weeks. An additional eight to nine months of maintenance and monitoring will then take place before competitions can be scheduled in early 2022.
Stage 1 of the MSRSP is scheduled to be completed in mid-2021, with Stage 2 to commence sometime in late 2021 following a recent $10million budget contribution by the Victorian Government.
