- Balcatta Etna Football Club's home ground gets upgrade with $1.3 million in WA Labor Government funding
- Improvements at Grindleford Reserve made to field lighting and clubroom
- Part of WA Labor Government's record investment into sporting infrastructure across the State
The Western Australian Labor Government's $1.3 million funding commitment to the Balcatta Etna Football Club is now being enjoyed by the community with the completion of field lighting and upgrades to the soccer clubrooms to cater for both male and female teams.
The opening of the new facilities was officially celebrated over the weekend at Grindleford Reserve to coincide with the club's twilight fixture against Perth Soccer Club.
Improvements to the lighting included the installation of floodlighting for the main playing field and adjacent training area.
Refurbishment works for the club's amenities involved renovations to the kitchen, internally accessible toilet facilities, additional storage areas and improvements to the existing roof structure covering the spectator viewing area.
In addition to a $1 million election commitment, the club was also awarded $300,000 through the Women's World Cup Legacy Grants to upgrade female change rooms, player shelters and the grandstand at Grindleford Reserve.
It also includes the construction of a dedicated storage shed for the women's team equipment.
The Women's World Cup Legacy Grants program is a broader $9.3 million WA Government commitment to invest in the world game at a grassroots level, following the resounding success of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Perth.
The project also received $1.2 million in funding from the City of Stirling.
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We know the enormous physical, social and emotional benefits sport provides to our community, and we're committed to providing high quality and accessible recreational facilities for our communities to enjoy.
"With the growing participation of women in sport in WA, it's important that community sporting grounds keep pace by providing modern and functional women's change rooms and facilities to support this trend.
"Improved lighting will enable increased and safer use in the evenings that will support more players, from juniors to veterans, to participate in recreational activities.
"We're really proud as a government to be investing record amounts in community sporting infrastructure and continuing to reduce the barriers for women participating in sport."
As stated by Balcatta MLA David Michael:
"Grindleford Reserve is a vibrant community hub for Balcatta and the surrounding areas, but it's been in need of upgrades for some time now with the original clubrooms built back in the 1990s.
"With more people getting out and joining clubs like Balcatta Etna Football Club, these upgrades are really important in helping to support growth in participation from juniors right up to our veterans."
