Olympic Park undergoes stage three redevelopment

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Banyule City Council has commenced stage three works on Olympic Park as the venue continues to prosper in redevelopment.

Olympic Park is located in Heidelberg West on the western fringe of the municipality. Home to Heidelberg United Football Club, it is an established sport and community recreation reserve with a significant history – once used as a prominent training base for the 1956 Olympic Games.

The venue is undergoing a four-stage redevelopment process in order to provide functional and appropriate levels of sport and recreation infrastructure, and shift towards more informal and casual recreation pursuits.

Originally adopted by Council on March 14, 2017, the Olympic Park master plan has seen the first and second stages already completed, which included:

  • The redevelopment of the main playing pitch (natural turf)
  • Underground infrastructure
  • Reshaping of dirt mounds around the pitch and access paths.
  • Synthetic mini-roos pitch/warm up area (including drainage, fencing and lighting).
  • Car parking with Water Sensitive Urban Design elements including bio swales and bio retention basins.
  • Playground with nature place, structured play, shelter, BBQs and picnic furniture.
  • Electrical substation upgrades and main pitch lighting
  • Landscaping and shared paths.
  • 1956 Memorial Olympic Garden.

The third stage of the process is in place to construct a new car park located at the north entrance road to Olympic Park Reserve, including water sensitive urban design. The works began in late December last year and are scheduled to be completed by March 2022.

Stage four works are expected to begin mid 2022 and predicted to be finished by March 2023. It is still in the planning phase for the time being, where it currently includes:

  • Reconstruction and realignment of the northern cricket pitch (including drainage, lighting, fencing).
  • Reconstruction and realignment of two additional soccer pitches / cricket pitch with wicket between the soccer pitches (including drainage, irrigation, fencing, lighting).
  • New pavilion (change rooms, toilets, social space).
  • Cricket practice nets.
  • Acrylic futsal/basketball area (including fencing, lighting).
  • Refurbishment of Barrbunin Beek.
  • Landscaping and paths.

It is estimated that the cost of stage three and stage four works will be $7.5m. Council has allocated $3.0m (over four years) and the State Government has funded $4.5m.

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Labor announces campaign promise for Football facility upgrades in Hepburn Shire

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Soccer Facilities Set for $1.2 Million Upgrade in Hepburn Shire
Image Credit: Poppy Pix/ Shutterstock

The growing participation of women and girls in soccer throughout the Hepburn Shire is set to receive a significant boost, with two local facilities earmarked for major upgrades.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King announced the funding commitment which targets Victoria Park in Daylesford and the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

This funding is totalled at $1.2 million should the Federal Labor Government secure re-election on May 3. These upgrades address critical infrastructure shortfalls that have hindered growth in female participation.

Labor Federal MP Catherine King, who has held the Labor ‘stronghold’ seat since the 2022 election has been vocal in her support for women’s football and the struggles faced.

“The current situation where women and girls are forced to use men’s changerooms, cars or old sheds for match preparation is simply not acceptable in modern sport,” King commented via The Ballarat Times.

“These clubs have created welcoming environments that women and girls want to be part of, and these upgrades will provide the facilities they deserve.”

The Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club, which currently supports approximately 150 players including 40 female participants, has been forced to implement membership caps due to inadequate pitch capacity.

The proposed reconfiguration at Victoria Park will deliver two senior-sized pitches, accommodating the surge in junior and women’s participation.

Meanwhile, at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, funding will enable the construction of additional female-friendly changing facilities for both players and officials.

The commitment reflects the changing landscape of Australian soccer, with female participation rates continuing to climb nationwide.

Local sporting administrators have welcomed the announcement, noting that inadequate facilities have long been identified as a significant barrier to growing female participation in grassroots sport.

These election commitments would be delivered in accordance with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles should the Albanese Government secure another term.

The need for development of local facilities has become more evident and pressing. Most amateur clubs primary funding for upgrades is through government grants.

Sport is such an integral part of the Australian landscape and the need for fair opportunity for women gains momentum, promises like this hold great hope for people and lasting positive impacts.

As the most played sport in the state and Australia, especially among women, its positive to hear that, like other codes football is getting the recognition and support it deserves.

DAZN turns down LFP proposal to end Ligue 1 broadcasting deal

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Image credit: DAZN

Broadcaster DAZN has rejected a proposal brought forward by the French Professional Football League (LFP) to terminate its five-year broadcasting deal for Ligue 1 after one season.

The sports streaming platform originally signed a five-year deal worth AUD $715 million (€400 million) a year to broadcast eight out of the nine Ligue 1 matches each week.

But with fewer subscribers than expected — reportedly only around 500,000, far below the 1.5 million needed to break even, the company has been pushing to renegotiate the deal.

In February, DAZN held back half of a AUD $125 million (€70 million) payment, accusing the LFP of not doing enough to fight piracy.

It also criticised the league and clubs for not promoting its broadcasts or collaborating on content.

The LFP responded by taking legal action, and DAZN eventually made the payment by the end of the month.

In March, both sides entered mediation to reach a compromise.

According to several reports, the proposed solution would have DAZN pay the league AUD$250 million (€140 million) — covering the full amount owed for this season — plus up to AUD$223.6 million (€125 million) in compensation for next season.

After that, the deal will officially end at the close of the current season.

This week, Ligue 1 clubs voted in favour of the proposal but DAZN has now rejected it, paving the way for possible legal action.

As a result, the LFP released a statement regarding DAZN’s rejection of the proposal.

“LFP Media notes the failure of the mediation initiated at the beginning of March 2025,” they said in a press release.

“The contract binding the parties remains in force and LFP Media expects its partner to fully fulfil all of its obligations in this regard.”

Before the mediation process began, DAZN had demanded AUD $1.025 billion (€573 million) in compensation from the LFP, accusing the league of not living up to its end of the deal.

In response to the LFP, DAZN released its own statement.

“After four months of discussions — including six weeks of mediation — initiated in good faith by DAZN and involving several proposals, the mediation unfortunately did not succeed in sufficiently bridging the gap between the parties,” they said following the LFP’s statement.

“It has therefore not been possible at this stage to reach an agreement for an amicable resolution of the situation.”

DAZN’s rejection of the deal has effectively ended the mediation process, with negotiations between the streaming service and the LFP now finished.

However, reports from France indicate that the two sides are expected to meet again on April 30th, the deadline for DAZN’s next payment for the current season.

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