Victoria Park council stalls plans for new grandstand and facilities for Perth Football Club at Lathlain Park

Plans for a new grandstand and player facilities for the Perth Football Club at Lathlain Park have stalled after Victoria Park Town council balked at tipping in a further $3.6 million to cover a shortfall in the $24 million project. Council officers had recommended $3.644 million come out of the town’s Future Fund Reserve on top of the $5m the town had already committed but the council on Tuesday night voted 5-3 to reject the proposal. The project has secured funding from the Federal and State governments ($4m and $10m), Lathlain Park neighbours the West Coast ($1m) and the WA Football Commission ($200,000). It would include a new 800-seat grandstand, club function area, members bar, kitchen and a community space managed by the Town of Victoria Park. WAFC chief executive Michael Roberts described the current facilities as “dilapidated” and “unsafe” and spoke of an incident where “part of the façade of the grandstand dislodged and fell 10-metres to the ground”. “The facility is currently inaccessible for people with certain disabilities, and in 2022 the facility made national headlines with the poor changerooms on offer for AFLW players with no lights, no cooling, one toilet per team and shower curtains made by using old broomsticks,” he said. “The boys and girls within Perth zones deserve the same opportunity to train in suitable and safe facilities as their peers. “We know the facility does not meet building codes ... it is falling apart, it’s unsafe, it does not cater for females to train and play out of and it does not meet access and inclusion requirements. “This redevelopment will position Lathlain as a boutique venue that can attract more events, bringing more visitors, boosting local businesses and providing the place that the town and its residents can all use and be proud of.” Perth Football Club president Adrian Barich said ahead of the council vote that WAFL clubs were “the heart and soul of communities” in WA. “For many, these clubs are more than just a place to play football; they’re a source of camaraderie, pride and lifelong friendships,” he said. “They provide a sense of belonging, a place to support one another, and an enduring connection to our shared heritage and passion for the game.” Perth Football Club chief executive Russ Clark said the current facilities did not cater for women. “With the growth of women’s football, and with WAFLW matches at the venue, it is clear the current facility is not fit for purpose,” he said. “An example of this is having only one seated toilet in the changerooms when 40-plus women are using the changeroom.” In arguing against tipping in more money, Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon said the $5m figure was the “right limit” of contribution for the town. “This is an important and impactful project as indeed is every project that the town considers and progresses to this stage,” she said. “I would prefer to advocate for more funds to cover the shortfall rather than give a notice of intention to proceed at this point in time.” The council went on to pass an alternate motion, tabled by Ms Vernon, which will see Ms Vernon and CEO David Doy undertake “further advocacy to external stakeholders for additional funding” to fund the shortfall, with a report due back to the council in February. The town will also commence any “urgent works” on the existing facility. The decision has raised concerns with Perth Football Club, with fears the Federal Government will pull its funding because of an agreement for the funding to be used before the end of the 2025-26 financial year. But Ms Vernon said she recognised her motion had a number of risks. “(My alternate motion could result in) a delay in the project commencing (and) may result in a loss of the $4m in Federal funding committed to date,” she said. “It may result in the tender process having to be commenced again at a further cost and may result in the cost of construction increasing further if the market continues to experience cost escalations, and it may ultimately result in council having to consider whether or not this project continues at all in its current form. “However, the alternate motion will allow more time to secure additional funding, including ... the State and Federal elections where there may be opportunities for election commitments. “It may also allow us more time to achieve further funding through various grant funding opportunities.” Cr Peter Melrosa said he did not support the original motion and questioned whether Perth Football Club had its own Future Fund to help bankroll the project. “What I see are the local government, State Government, Federal Government, West Coast Eagles and West Australian Football Commission contributions,” he said. “I imagine the Perth Football Club pay their executive team, board members and staff and in some cases, their players, therefore, I struggle to understand why such a contribution doesn’t exist in this context. “The issues that Mr Roberts raised in his statement about the condition of the facilities ... makes me wonder what kind of level of neglect actually exists at the facility, and how much of it is actually rather simple fixes ... so smaller or temporary improvements (can happen) in the short term until a more equitable funding path is established. “I wonder whether the football club has a future fund of its own, where its players and members in its catchment — which geographically make up a third of the metro area — contribute to its future.” But Ms Vernon said the town was “not giving up” on the project. “I have done nothing but support this project from the very beginning,” she said. “We have taken every step we possibly could to keep this project moving. “If everyone is really committed to this project, as they constantly express that they are — State and Federal Governments included — then they will engage with us with a view to the additional funding. “This is about providing a facility that will be used by a State-based league ... and on that basis, I look particularly to the State to assist us with that aspiration.”