Western Melbourne Group successful in its A-League bid
A new purpose-built A-League football stadium to be built in Melbourne's west received a major boost when the A-League announced a new Western Melbourne team had been successful in its bid to enter the competition.
On greenfield land located on the periphery of western Melbourne, the Sayers Road site is close to the Geelong railway line which as part of the recent state election, could be in the running to have electrified metro services running past in the near future.
The A-League team and development proponent, Western Melbourne Group, has stated in the past that it would not be seeking significant public investment to develop the stadium and precinct in Wyndham.
The stadium would seat 15,000 people, include training facilities and the precinct could also include a higher-education campus and conference and hotel facilities.
In June 2018, the Wyndham Mayor, Cr Peter Maynard, backed the WMG's proposal.
"If successful, this project will mean great things for our local area. It will bring people from across Australia right here to Wyndham to watch on as the nation’s best football players battle it out on the field.
The value of this landmark deal for our community will be massive, positioning us as a destination of choice, and putting us on the national and international sporting stage.
We’re also looking forward to the economic boost this project could bring to Wyndham. Hundreds of jobs will be created through the construction phase, and we’ll see more created once the stadium is up and running.
There is also a plan to co-locate a university offering as part of the sports science precinct and sports centre of excellence, creating more educational opportunities for our residents.
We’re confident this project will be a catalyst for other investors. It’s brilliant to see that Western Melbourne Group Holdings, led by Maurice Bisetto, have seen our region for what it is – a thriving area worthy of significant investment.
Wyndham is definitely open for business!"
Cr Peter Maynard, Wyndham City Mayor
The Western Melbourne A-League team would enter the competition in 2019/2020, playing its first games at Kardinia Park in Geelong while its own stadium is under development.
Adjusting the scope of the Western Melbourne Rail Plan
Melbourne knows quite well how to make a stadium a success - you need high-quality public transport (read: heavy rail / trains) servicing it. Just look at Waverley/AFL Park's demise versus the the usage at the MCG and Marvel/Docklands Stadium.
The site, as quoted in this Star Weekly report from earlier in the year, lies right next to the Regional Rail Link corridor which currently forms part of the Geelong line.
In the recent state election campaign, the Andrews Government promised to conduct a Western Melbourne Rail Plan alongside completing its Melbourne Airport Rail Link and Higher-speed services to Geelong/Ballarat studies.
While still a work in progress, the Andrews Government did moot track quadruplication from Sunshine to Deer Park (the junction of the Ballarat and Geelong lines) and from Deer Park to West Werribee - this would allow electrified metro services to operate separate from express/regional services to Geelong and Ballarat.
Perhaps those plans - should they eventuate - should include a brand new station as well.