Essendon Football Club home base to undergo expansion
ESSENDON’S home base will open its doors to more Paralympic athletes to use the club’s world-class facilities under a $4 million commitment from the Federal Opposition.
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ESSENDON Football Club’s home base will undergo an expansion and open its doors to more Paralympic athletes to use the club’s world-class facilities under a $4 million commitment from the federal Opposition.
A wheelchair-accessible dorm will be built for national wheelchair basketball, rugby and table tennis programs under the move to turn the Bombers’ home base into a hub for Paralympians.
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Bill Shorten will today announce the commitment to construct the new facilities at The Hangar, aiming to build on the club’s partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee that allows athletes to use the facilities throughout the year.
More than 160 additional para-sport athletes would train at the Bombers’ Tullamarine base under the move.
There will also be an Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame to showcase the history of the Paralympic movement in Australia.
Mr Shorten said Australia’s Paralympians were among the best in the world and they deserved access to the world’s best facilities.
“There is no easy journey to make it to the pinnacle of elite sport, and our para-sport athletes know this better than anyone,” Mr Shorten said.
“Our para-sport athletes work incredibly hard to be the best, and access to world class training facilities can make a massive difference.
“I congratulate the Australian Paralympic Committee and the Essendon Football Club for forming this partnership, and I’m very proud that if we’re elected, a Labor Government will put in the funding to ensure more para-athletes have the opportunity to train at The Hangar.”
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said the funding commitment would also allow for a dedicated museum and Hall of Fame.
“We anticipate The Hangar project being completed by 2021 to align with our celebration of the 150th anniversary of the club,” he said.
“However, we will require further support of the Essendon network and look forward to continuing our positive conversations with all levels of Government – including the State Government – to bring this vitally important community project to fruition.”