Australia:
The development of Hockey Australia’s brand-new Hockey Australia Centre of Excellence has received the green light after the Western Australian Government recently completed negotiations to sign the development deed with Curtin University.
Minister for Sport and Recreation David Templeman today visited Perth Hockey Stadium to mark the significant development, of the state-of-the-art world-class facility.
On completion, the brand-new centre will include four international hockey pitches, a specialist training facility, an indoor hockey centre, with the major stadium to include seating up to 10,000- in event mode with modern broadcasting capabilities.
Predicted to be arguably the best hockey facility in the world, the WA Government’s investment will provide all-round support both for events and athletes both on and off the pitch. This includes sustainability features, unmatched technology, and a key focus on athlete wellbeing, assisting the Australian national men’s and women’s team’s ability to remain amongst the top rungs of the international hockey stage.
The purpose-built facility will remain Australia’s home of hockey for the next 18 years, after Hockey WA won the bid in December 2022.
Amid negotiations over the past 18 months, Hockey Australia and the WA Government have been working closely with Hunt Architects, collaborating on the functionality and look of the Hockey Australia Centre of Excellence.
Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said the Minister’s visit marks a significant milestone in the project.
“The WA Government’s investment is the largest in the sport’s history in Australia and we’re pleased to see years of planning come to fruition as it coincides with the start of a new Olympic cycle in our High Performance program.
“It’s been fantastic to be so involved in the planning of the Centre, and we believe the final design will reflect the legacy of the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras in a truly world-class facility that delivers on the pitch and off it.”
Hockey WA CEO Fabian Ross said it’s incredibly pleasing to have a clear path for the transformation of Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University.
“We can not thank the WA Government enough for their significant investment and ongoing support towards this project that will have such an immense positive impact on thousands of hockey players not only in WA but across Australia and internationally.
“This project continues to be unlike anything our sport has seen and we as a hockey community are excited to see work get underway on a world-class facility that we can call home.”
Two-time Olympian, Kookaburras striker Tom Wickham said the facility is massive for Australia, hockey and Western Australian sport.
“Having a high performance facility like this, when there’s nothing else like it in Australia and arguably, in the world, is massive. To have the convenience of a world-class facility makes it more enticing to be a part of our sport. We’re competing with some big sports, so to be able to have a facility like this that only makes it more convenient and enhances the experience of our sport will do wonders for the sport’s potential.”
“High performance sport requires a holistic approach. Playing hockey itself is an important part of it but when you combine that with how well can you piece all of the other parts of your life together that’s what makes you a complete athlete. Having a hub like this is absolutely critical to being a genuine high performance facility. I’m excited to see the sport grow and witness athletes reach their peak.”
