Australia’s 16th richest person puts money behind A-League bid
BILLIONAIRE property developer Lang Walker will throw cash behind the United for Macarthur A-League bid.
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BILLIONAIRE property developer Lang Walker will throw cash behind the United for Macarthur A-League bid.
The executive chairman of Walker Corporation this morning pledged to become a shareholder in the team should it be successful in winning a place in the 2019-20 A-League season.
Forbes lists Mr Walker as Australia’s 16th richest person in 2017 with a worth of $2.31 billion.
He was previously the bid’s business ambassador.
The United for Macarthur bid proposed a co-operative model where community members take ownership of the club as shareholders, known as the Macarthur United Football Co-operative.
Mr Walker said the Macarthur region and the larger southwest area would be the fastest-growing Sydney corridor in the next 10 to 15 years.
“We are very active in the Macarthur and the southwest community, providing high-quality housing and infrastructure to the region, and I am honoured to have been invited to participate in what I believe is a very compelling proposal,” Mr Walker said.
“Sydney’s southwest is growing rapidly and has the facilities in place, with the centrepiece being Campbelltown Sports Stadium, to quickly become a force in the A-League.”
Mr Walker said an A-League team at Campbelltown Stadium would benefit the whole of southwest Sydney and said business across the region should get behind the bid.
“The best opportunity to be one of the two teams awarded a new licence for the expanded A-League is for the whole region to work together towards that goal,” he said.
If successful, Walker Constructions will become a strategic partner of the A-League team and also have input in the upgrade of the stadium, other local sporting facilities and football clubs in the region.
Walker Corporation has a long history in the Macarthur region with its Appin Valley development and plans for future development in Wilton.
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Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic said he was proud to have Mr Walker on board with a project that promises to offer so much to the Macarthur region.
“We are delighted to see Lang and his team join as shareholders in the Macarthur United Football Co-operative,” he said.
“This co-operative is now driving the bid for the establishment of a new A-League team for our region. This opportunity would provide a significant boost to the Macarthur region and beyond.
“Mr Walker’s increased commitment is compelling evidence of the strong chance we have in winning the bid, and an endorsement of our unique community-based model.”
The United for Macarthur bid was submitted to Football Federation Australia alongside 15 other proposals at the end of May. Short-listed bids will be announced later this month and will submit a final proposal to FFA by August 31.