Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Perth is locked in as the nation’s number one hockey destination, after the State Government committed $163 million to build a world-class Australian Hockey Centre for amateur and professional leagues.
The existing Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University in Bentley will be transformed into an elite centre and home to Hockey Australia’s Centre of Excellence and High-Performance program.
The Australian men’s and women’s teams, the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos, will train and play at the centre alongside local club teams and Premier League teams.
The new centre will cement Perth’s status as a cornerstone of Australian hockey and reflect WA’s status as Australia’s most hockey-mad community.
Hockey WA chief executive officer Graham Reid told PerthNow that WA has the highest hockey participation rates in the country.
“We have just over 23,000 players and 180 clubs statewide. We have competitions ranging from under fives through to over 85s,” he said.
“There are only two national sport programs in WA, hockey and artistic swimming. We’ve been a leader in Australia in hockey for a long time.”
The new centre will incorporate a specialist high-performance training centre, an indoor hockey centre with two courts, and four outdoor pitches with at least two at a category one international standard.
It will also include a new 1000-seat stadium, with a venue capacity of up to 10,000 spectators on event days.
The new high performance program is expected to entice athletes from all over Australia, and will provide access to specialist sports lighting, quality change rooms, sport science services and modern broadcasting capabilities.
Mr Reid said he hoped the investment would encourage larger-scale hockey events and competitions in WA, and strengthen grassroots hockey participation.
“The great thing about this stadium is that it has the State level, but it also has the community level,” he said.
“We’re trying to base three existing community clubs here as their home ground.
“We’ll have four turfs instead of two turfs, which is a huge upgrade, and we’ll be running indoor courts, which will allow us to regrow the sport.
“We can also have a dip at hosting the Masters Hockey World Cup in 2030, because the stadium can be upgraded to fit 10,000 spectators. And there’s the Pro League world championships every year.”
Mr Reid said the new centre would also provide an opportunity to expand Hockey WA’s existing programs.
“There are things we already host here that we can keep growing, like the Youth International Cup for under 16s, where we host players from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea. We can build that to under 18s,” he said.
Mr Reid said the project should also strengthen Hockey WA’s relationship with Curtin University, allowing it to potentially work with sports science students within the centre.
The WA Government has been communicating with Hockey Australia has been working with the State Government for the past three to four years to get the project off the ground.
Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said the multi-million-dollar State investment would strengthen Perth’s existing status as a hockey juggernaut for future generations.
It will be delivered as part of the Cook Government’s PlayOn WA initiative, which aims to deliver 2030 community sport and recreation infrastructure projects across WA by 2030.
“For more than 40 years, Perth has been home to the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos, and this investment ensures the next generation of WA athletes have access to facilities that match their ambition and talent,” she said.
“This project is about creating clear development pathways, from local clubs through to representing Australia on the world stage.”
Perth’s existing hockey centre has played a major part in building Australia’s hockey scene by hosting national programs, State-based development initiatives and elite competition.
South Perth MP Geoff Baker said the flash new facility would ensure Perth’s longevity as a hockey provider for local and professional competitions.
“Having a world-class Australian Hockey Centre right on our doorstep will bring new energy to the area, attract major competitions, and create more opportunities for local families and young players to get involved in hockey,” he said.
“This project ensures our community continues to be at the heart of Australia’s hockey story.”
The State Government have confirmed the existing hockey turfs will remain available for training and competing while the new facility is built.
Phase one is expected to be completed by April 2028, and phase two is expected by May 2029.
