Synthetic dream a step closer

THE Macarthur region's football home could be in for an upgrade to state-of-the-art synthetic turf.

Coalition

THE home of football in the Macarthur region will be able to host four times the amount of soccer under a Coalition funding commitment to allow Lynwood Park to make plans for a synthetic future.

Lynwood Park will receive a $500,000 grant to install a synthetic soccer pitch before the 2015 season, Macarthur federal Liberal MP Russell Matheson said. Opposition Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull joined Mr Matheson at Lynwood Park on Saturday.

Macarthur Football Association general manager Glenn Armstrong said "four times the football" could be played on a synthetic turf field.

"This is a massive step in the right direction for football here," he said.

Federal funds would be combined with a $200,000 injection from MFA, which is also asking for support from Campbelltown Council and the State Government to foot the $1 million bill.

Armstrong said Lynwood Park would go from being used 15 hours a week to a 60-hour "centre of excellence".

The size of the synthetic ground will be 100m by 70m and will be able to host MFA games and training sessions, school tournaments and corporate games.

Mr Matheson said the grant commitment was a win for the association's 24 clubs.

"Lynwood Park is a major sports field for the Macarthur region and it's important we provide the local sporting infrastructure needed," he said.

"More than 30,000 people use the grounds each season from the young under-6s to the over-35s and the players and supporters of the Macarthur Rams representative games."