Friday, 20 April 2018

The Andrews Labor Government will bring more blockbuster NRL matches to Melbourne and build Victoria’s first Rugby League Centre of Excellence, paving the way for a Melbourne Storm women’s team.

The Labor Government will invest $12 million to build a Rugby League Centre of Excellence in Broadmeadows – a community that loves its league.

Frank McGuire, State Member for Broadmeadows said, “Broadmeadows is the new field of dreams for Melbourne Storm, which has the discipline, teamwork and commitment it takes to build a world championship club. This Centre of Excellence will inspire today’s youth and future generations, and build community cohesion.”

The Centre will include new playing fields, high-performance facilities and an administrative-base for NRL Victoria.

The new facility will provide Victoria with a new hub for rugby league programs, and a venue for training, camps and state and national level tournaments.

In more big news for women’s sport, the centre will pave the way for the introduction of a Melbourne Storm women’s team in the new NRL Women’s Premiership.

The Centre and NRL women’s license form part of the Labor Government’s biggest investment in women’s and community sport in our state’s history.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will invest $241.6 million in community sport, including more than $100 million to improve facilities and access for women.

Quotes attributable to Hume Mayor, Cr Geoff Porter

Hume City Council is pleased to partner with the State Government, the NRL, NRL Victoria and Melbourne Storm to bring the Rugby League Centre of Excellence to fruition.

Council is proud to provide the land which has enabled this development to occur and to work in partnership to deliver this world class sporting facility.

It’s fair to say that we are proud as punch to host an NRL Women’s Premiership team and to become the Victorian heart of rugby!

I can’t wait to join other Hume locals in waving the Storm flag and showing our support for this new team.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren 

“From grassroots to the top level, we’re proud to be strengthening the future of rugby league in Victoria and enabling the introduction of a Melbourne Storm women’s team.”

“These blockbusters are another chance to welcome plane-loads of visitors to our state who will spend their valuable tourism dollars, support jobs and make our economy even stronger.”

“Our friends across the border had to travel to Victoria to see what a sell-out State of Origin crowd looked like – we look forward to continuing that tradition.”

GeneralIn the CommunityMedia Release