FootyGoss :: Club News - Peel [Thunder to get new Facilities]

Peel Thunder to get New Facilities

Peel Thunder Football Club and the local Mandurah community are celebrating a bright sporting future following the announcement of $3.5m in Federal Government funding for the development of new facilities at Rushton Park.

The highly anticipated redevelopment of WAFL club Peel Thunder’s home ground is coming to fruition with $3.5m pledged in Federal Government funding, $3.4m allocated by the City of Mandurah, $700,000 from the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund and $500,000 from the AFL. 

The funds will be used to overhaul facilities at the ground, which is shared with the Mandurah Mustangs Football Club and other community and sporting groups. The upgrade will include the construction of new administration and spectator facilities to create a football Centre of Excellence, catering for the entire Mandurah community and meeting the need for a larger function space in the city.

Peel Thunder Football Club president John Ditchburn, who has been a driving force behind the proposal, said he was excited that Rushton Park would be redeveloped as a WAFL Centre of Excellence, while also providing an important social and community facility for the growing Mandurah region.

“This would have to be the biggest news in our club’s brief history,” Mr Ditchburn said. “It really adds to what has already been a huge year for us both on and off the field and gives us another big boost.

“The redevelopment will provide a bright outlook for the future and be an impetus for employment and the local economy. We have put in a lot of hard work to rebuild the club after the hiccup last year, so this announcement is very welcome news.

“I would like to thank the Federal member for Brand, Gary Gray, and Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese and his Department, as well as the City of Mandurah, the AFL, West Australian Football Commission, State Government and Department of Sport and Recreation. It has been a great team effort,” he said.

“There is still some work to do but this level of funding gives us great confidence that the project will commence as soon as possible.”