Heidelberg United Football Club’s master plan for the redevelopment of the Olympic Village precinct in West Heidelberg received a further boost last Wednesday when the federal member for Jagajaga, Jenny Macklin MP, pledged a $500,000 contribution if a Labor government is elected.
The grant will go towards the redevelopment of the social club facility at the club.
This is one key part of a four to six million dollar plan to redevelop the whole site into a modern facility. In addition to the social club redevelopment, the plan includes the construction of a new car park behind the grandstand, the relocation of the main pitch closer to the main stand, the construction of new VIP media facilities, the construction of a synthetic pitch and two additional pitches in the area adjacent to and behind the social club.
Minister Macklin’s announcement follows a $200,000 contribution made by state government and the City of Banyule towards the construction of female-friendly change rooms at Olympic Village, announced in late April.
Speaking at the HUFC Social Club on Wednesday, Jenny Macklin MP said, “The club has been doing a fantastic job working up their master plan. We’ve been talking about it over many, many months and I’m really pleased to come along tonight and announce that if Labor is successful on Saturday 2 July we will contribute $500,000 for the redevelopment of this fantastic social club. Each and every one of you knows how important this social club is to the whole club. It’s a place where everyone can come along, join together, have a lot of fun. But it’s also the place where the club itself will raise a lot of money to contribute to the ongoing development of these fantastic grounds.”
Spokesperson for HUFC, club secretary John Lioupas said, “On behalf of HUFC, I’d like to sincerely thank Jenny for pledging her much valued support by contributing to the redevelopment of this historic site – the training venue for the 1956 Olympic Games and our home since 1979. Whilst this is a historic site, our facilities don’t need to be. They are in urgent need of an upgrade. This funding pledge, that has been made today by Jenny along with the recent announcement by the Andrews government and the co-contribution of the City of Banyule for female friendly change rooms, as well as the master plan the council are currently developing for this precinct, will essentially lay the cornerstone for the redevelopment of Olympic Park into a modern facility, not only for our beautiful game but for the whole of the Banyule community. We will build it – brick by brick if we have to. But we will build it.”