CONSTRUCTION has begun on Hawthorn Football Club’s new Dingley Village training facility, which has been partly funded by taxpayers and Kingston ratepayers.
The club purchased the 28 hectare Dingley Village site in 2016. When finished, the facility will house an MCG-sized oval with lighting, an indoor training field, aquatic facilities, unisex change rooms, a function centre, public amenities and a carpark with lighting.
The training facility is projected to cost $113 million. The federal and state governments have put in $15 million each, and Kingston ratepayers will fork out $5 million. Hawthorn FC will spend $73 million, and the AFL will contribute $5 million. The club hopes the project will be finished by late 2025.
Last year Kingston Council defended its $5 million contribution, saying that the facility will be available for community use at least 20 hours per week (“Cash for AFL base ‘great value’ – mayor” The News 12/7/23).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the site to turn the first sod last week. He said the Kennedy Community Centre will be “a focal point and a home for community sport, men and women, boys and girls, all ages and so many sporting codes.”
“It will be a place in the best of the Australian tradition – where sport belongs to the people and sport brings people together,” he said.
Kingston mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said the project would help support a new generation of athletes. “Our council is passionate about supporting sport, particularly the participation of women and girls, and we are thrilled to see the Kennedy Centre project come to fruition,” she said.
“Community sport is all about great physical and mental wellbeing, provides a real sense of belonging and helps build strong connections. It’s great to think we could soon be seeing the next generation of Tilly Lucas-Rodds, Jazzy Flemmings, Chad Wingards and Jai Newcombes getting their start on a brand-new community oval here in Dingley Village.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 14 February 2024
