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Photo: (L-R)  Mayor Logan Howlett, City of Cockburn; Natalie Forycki, Fitness Coach, Cockburn ARC; David Scaife, MLA, Member for Cockburn; Hon Simone McGurk, MLA, Member for Fremantle; Hon David Templeman, Minister, Sport and Recreation; Lisa Webb, AFLW Senior Coach, Fremantle Football Club; Simon Garlick, CEO, Fremantle Football Club; Steven Rose, Facilities and Government Relations, West Australian Football Commission; Daniel Simms, CEO, City of Cockburn.

Through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ Infrastructure division, the State Government is contributing $2.5 million to the $16.2 million City of Cockburn ARC and Fremantle Football Club Community Expansion Project. Cockburn ARC is the city’s aquatic and recreation centre.

The State contribution to the project, located in Perth’s southern suburbs, will deliver:

• three changerooms including a female specific changeroom
• umpire changerooms, first aid and public amenities
• storage
• multipurpose education space
• spectator terrace and seating.

One of these will be a female changeroom to support the Fremantle Football Club’s AFLW program at the adjacent Victor George Kallis Oval.

Total cost of this part of the project is $6.6 million.

The City of Cockburn is also giving its fitness centre a $9.6 million revamp with changes to areas such as the spin studio, gym and group fitness areas.

The combined cost of Community Expansion Project is $16.2 million, which includes a $3.15 million from Fremantle Football Club and the AFL, plus $350,000 from the WA Football Commission (WAFC). 

Construction of the changerooms is due to start in March 2024.

In light of the formation of our AFLW teams and the huge response to last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, more young women are playing these sports and need suitable changerooms, like their male counterparts have had for a long time.

In a wider context, any facilities which encourage more woman and girls to take part in sport and active recreation are a positive for the community both from a mental and physical health perspective.