Demons secure backing from Caulfield Racecourse Trust to press on with new HQ talks

What looked to be full steam ahead for the Dees in Caulfield could be placed on the backfoot, with the Glen Eira council voicing their concerns.

Demons training. Max Gawn and Jack Viney. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Melbourne has been warned that a new training and administrative base at Caulfield Racecourse cannot come at the expense of community access to the area after the local council was left in the dark about the proposed move.

The Demons announced this week that they had secured funding to commence a feasibility study which would identify a location for the club’s long term home base within the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve.

However, Glen Eira City Council – which covers Caulfield – was not made aware of the proposal, having long identified the Crown land as a “missed opportunity for broad community use”.

The Crown land is managed by the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust.

Glen Eira Mayor Anne-Marie Cade said while a move by the Demons had the “potential to increase and accelerate investment” in the area, such investment had been “known to reduce community access in other locations”.

The Dees’ move could be threatened. Picture: Tess Gellie/Melbourne FC

Residents living within the Glen Eira council area have the least amount of open space per person in metropolitan Melbourne and there is a major squeeze on community sporting facilities.

“We want to know what our involvement is going to be,” Cade said of the Demons’ proposal.

“We would like to see terms of reference and we need to understand what the intention is here.”

Cade said that large-scale surveys had shown the “biggest priority” for local residents was improving existing open spaces and creating new ones, which there was an opportunity to do at Caulfield Racecourse.

“We have continued to advocate to other levels of government to work with us and the trust to unlock this very valuable open space at the reserve for the use of the community,” Cade said.

“We work very closely with the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust and, like the Trust, we want to ensure that any redevelopment includes new multipurpose spaces to maximise community access.”

The Dees are hopeful to be in Caulfield by 2028. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

In a statement on Tuesday, Melbourne noted that the feasibility study would cover not only the construction of a high-performance facility but also “focus on the community benefits” of the club moving in.

The Demons are hopeful they could call the area home as early as 2028, with the reserve being only 20 minutes’ drive from the club’s home ground at the MCG.

GIDDY UP: DEES’ CAULFIELD MOVE TAKES NEXT CRUCIAL STEP

- Jay Clark

Melbourne has taken a major step towards setting up a sparkling new training and administrative base at Caulfield Racecourse after securing funding for a feasibility study.

The club will ramp up assessments and plans for the site in an attempt to finally bring the club under one roof in the east of Melbourne as early as 2028.

In a significant breakthrough, the club confirmed on Tuesday it had secured backing from the Caulfield Racecourse Trust to press ahead with work on the site following a year of talks.

It means the club will zero in on the Caulfield site for its new home following multiple failed attempts to construct a new headquarters at Olympic and Yarra Parks.

Caulfield is a prime location for Melbourne, only 20 minutes drive from its home ground at the MCG.

The project has been the top priority for chief executive Gary Pert who has zeroed in on Caulfield as the ideal location for the club in daily discussions with Caulfield Racecourse Trust officials.

The Dees’ new home could soon be Caulfield. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Melbourne has privately believed it has the worst facilities in the AFL with new setups for West Coast, Hawthorn and Carlton, in particular, leaving the Demons in their wake.

While the Demons will likely move ahead with drawings and designs next year, Melbourne could construct two training ovals on the inside of the two tracks and new buildings on the outside.

Work will continue on a connecting tunnel between the ovals and the administrative buildings and gym and medical facilities to ensure the view of the track will not be blocked to racegoers.

There are also plans to construct community facilities at Caulfield as part of a new sports hub, potentially featuring basketball and netball courts, and cycling and walking tracks.

Melbourne’s new facility would be built in partnership with the community projects to help service the sporting needs of locals.

It is unlikely Melbourne would have secured the Government support necessary to go ahead with its new headquarters without significant community upgrades in the area.

Importantly, the new base will help secure the club’s future close to the city and give its men’s and women’s teams the necessary space and facilities required to lead elite programs.

Chief executive Gary Pert said it was an exciting time for the club.

“It’s important that we deliver the best facilities and opportunities for everyone including our members and supporters,” Pert said

“The feasibility funding is an important step forward in achieving this.

“As a club, our vision is to create facilities that will all our players and coaches to compete in the toughest professional sporting competition in Australia, but at the same time provide the broader community with facilities and benefits, as a result of accessing our high-performance centre when it’s not utilised by the club.”

It is great timing for the club which is expected to release details of the project to members and stakeholders at its annual general meeting next Tuesday, pending Government approvals.

Melbourne have been doing pre-season at Gosch’s Paddock, AAMI Park, the MCG and Casey Fields. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Demons have been frustrated by the hurdles and knock backs they have faced in their attempt to move closer to the city.

Melbourne officials and players currently split their time between Gosch’s Paddock, AAMI Park, the MCG and Casey Fields, which has undergone recent upgrades to try and cater for the club’s needs.

The announcement will be warmly welcomed by players and staff who can drive up to an hour to travel from the city to Casey Fields for main training sessions.

A brilliant new home could also help support the club’s attempts to recruit players due to the proximity of the new base to the city and the elite facilities.

The club has spent almost $20 million on upgrading its facilities in recent years and share AAMI Park with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Storm.

The club competed significant work on a new base at Yarra Park, which was rejected, and struggled to secure the space it required in car parks E and F adjoining AAMI Park.