Melbourne Victory's $18m football academy in Footscray Park appears doomed

A contentious proposal by the country's biggest soccer club to convert a section of Footscray Park into an $18 million training facility appears doomed after council staff and a specially appointed advisory panel recommended it be rejected.

Following months of bitter argument over the public value of Melbourne Victory’s proposal, the panel chosen by Maribyrnong Council concluded on Friday that the facility was a “private business operation” that would unduly benefit the club more than it would the community.

Protesters against Melbourne Victory's proposal, such as the Save Footscray Park group, appear to have got their wish.Credit: Wayne Taylor

The proposed women’s and youth soccer academy has become the inner west’s most polarising issue in years since Victory announced last October that it had won $10 million of state government funding.

Supporters said the proposal would provide much-needed, state-of-the-art facilities for local grassroots and female teams.

Opponents said the floodlit training grounds would not be available to the public enough, despite Victory stating the pitches would be open for use when their teams were not playing.

In its submissions to the council, the panel said the lease of at least 21 years would amount to a “loss of critical green space” and the proposed 500-person pavilion and three floodlit pitches would detract from the appearance of the park and significantly increase traffic.

An artist's impression of the three pitches that would be the new base for Victory's women's and youth teams.

The panel suggests that the council drops the plan, “thank Melbourne Victory football club for their proposal” and return to a previous plan to rejuvenate the grassland in its current form.

The 12-person panel, which included representatives from local sports clubs, historical societies and five community representatives, was appointed in August after councillors voted 6:1 to reject the draft masterplan for the park.

Sharon Schwab, a community representative on the panel, called the plan “ill-conceived”.

“It is simply unconscionable to give a privately owned company from outside Maribyrnong part of a public park when that fast-growing municipality is so lacking in green space for the residents,” she said.

“Changing part of a public park to single use for soccer only for at least 21 years is a very serious decision with long-term consequences for our community.”

Maribyrnong councillors are expected to reject Victory’s plan when they vote on it on Tuesday evening.

If the council votes against the advisory panel it must offer an alternative plan instead.

Maribyrnong council chief executive Stephen Wall said he did not want to pre-empt council's decision on Tuesday evening and "would not presume that the officer recommendation will be passed".

Local club Maribyrnong Swifts had partnered with Melbourne Victory to use the proposed academy.Credit: Paul Jeffers

"It is up to councillors to consider all the information that has been presented to them on the matter, to listen to any contrary argument, weigh up information and a range of competing values and perspectives and give full consideration before making a decision at the meeting," he said.

The soccer academy was to be built on the Western lawn, which is used by dog walkers and hosts events such as New Year’s Eve fireworks and the Laneway Festival.

The panel suggested a $1 to $2 million upgrade of the lawn – which is in poor condition in many parts – would “retain 100 per cent community benefit”.

It said the council should seek other external funding to improve the playing fields while continuing discussions with Victory for future opportunities.

It also called for increased council attention on female and youth sport, with 30 per cent of people in Maribyrnong under the age of 24.

An exhaustive community consultation included council receiving 1500 submissions.

Melbourne Victory was contacted for comment.