Melbourne are a step closer to convincing authorities to build their long-anticipated high performance and administration base at Caulfield Racecourse, with the Demons announcing on Wednesday that they have backing from local community groups.
The Demons have completed a feasibility study, which was launched in December last year to engage with the community, which claimed “positive” community support, and they will now prepare a business case to convince the state government and the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust to approve the project. The club hopes to know by mid-2025 whether the business case is successful.
An artist’s impression of the proposed Melbourne training and administration facility at Caulfield Racecourse.
Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert sent a letter to members on Wednesday which claimed the feasibility study had established that “the positive sentiment from so many local community organisations and groups has been widespread, and the feasibility study has definitely highlighted the community’s desire to see this project come to life”.
“While the success of the feasibility study does not ensure the future of the project, it is a crucial milestone in the process and marks a significant step forward in our journey towards realising our vision of a high-performance facility that makes us all feel proud to belong,” Pert wrote.
The club’s statement about positive community feedback comes six months after this masthead reported widespread concern from locals, including the Glen Eira council and local MP David Southwick.
The club has tried to find a single base for the club’s football program and administration for over a decade but have failed at every turn, with players and football staff mixing their time between AAMI Park and Casey Fields while the administration works out of the MCG.
Another impression of the Demons’ proposed home.
Pert was brought on board as CEO to deliver a high-performance facility, with early attempts for a location near the MCG failing before they turned to Caulfield Racecourse, which has been remodelled recently. The redevelopment led by the Melbourne Racing Club has been widely criticised by racing industry officials.
Under the proposal, the Demons would have an indoor training and administration facility as well as two ovals within the inner part of the racetrack.
“Within the business case phase, we will need to present the proposed funding model for the project, details of key users of the facility and the specifics of their access, an ongoing operating model for the facility, as well as further exploration of potential designs and layouts to ensure any facility would meet both the needs of the club and the community,” Pert said.
“One of the most pleasing aspects of the successful feasibility study was the overwhelming support we received from the Glen Eira community including local sporting clubs and schools, and various other community organisations.”
Melbourne have been embroiled in off-field controversy for over a year now with the club exiting the 2022 and 2023 finals series in straight sets before tumbling down the ladder this season. They have had to continually defend their culture.
Brad Green was installed as president at the start of September after former president Kate Roffey stood down following a widely condemned radio interview on SEN where she failed to adequately address the concerns star midfielder Christian Petracca had raised about the club’s direction and the way he was treated after being seriously injured on King’s Birthday.
