Maribyrnong River under threat by $21m soccer academy: environmental group

The Maribyrnong River could be under threat by algae blooms if three soccer pitches are built in Footscray Park, an environmentalist claims.

An artist’s impression of Melbourne Victory's new training facilities.

New soccer pitches that are part of a $21 million Melbourne Victory soccer academy to be built in Footscray Park will ruin the flow of the Maribyrnong River, an environmental group claims.

Three fields, including a show pitch, will be built at Footscray Park and two more at nearby Robert Barrett Reserve.

But Friends of Maribyrnong Valley president Judy Ingram said the Footscray Park pitches would ruin the flood plain that is the park and stop the natural flow of the Maribyrnong River.

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Ms Ingram said foreign soil and sand would need to be brought in to construct the soccer pitches and would raise the watertable.

The pitches would not be able to absorb the same amount of water, leading to more water moving back into the river, slowing the flow of the river and possibly sparking an algal bloom.

“When it floods, water rushes down the river and flushes out all the bad stuff, so we don’t get blue-green algae,” Ms Ingram said.

An artist’s impression Melbourne Victory's new training facilities

Maribyrnong Council planning director Nigel Higgins said the first stage of community consultation on the Footscray Park master plan had begun.

“Any final masterplan will seek to meet community needs including walking and dog access. The council is yet to receive any detailed application for the Football Academy which would prompt the next stage of assessments regarding stormwater,” he said.

“We are aware the area is in a flood plain and we will be working closely with Melbourne Water for their expertise on stormwater management.”

Bruce Lindsay is a lawyer for the Rivers of the West campaign and said the soccer pitches were a premature plan that could have consequences for the river down the track. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Rivers of the West campaign lawyer Bruce Lindsay said from a planning point of view the plans could be premature. “You’re undermining the long-term management of the river by foreclosing on the best options down the line,” he said.

A spokesman from Sports Minister Martin Pakula’s office would not answer questions on how the soccer pitches would affect the river or how they would be constructed. Instead, he said Maribyrnong Council was running public consultation on the park’s masterplan, which closes at the end of the month.

Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said the academy would be split over Footscray Park and Barretts Reserve and would double as a community centre designed to keep troubled youths off the street.

Mr Di Pietro said the Footscray headquarters would be finished by the end of 2020.

Melbourne Water did not respond to a request for comment.

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