Football Victoria is calling for State Government investment to help transform the Elsie Palmer fields at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve into the long-term home of Castlemaine Goldfields FC as part of the Level the Playing Field campaign.
Regional football continues to experience unprecedented growth, but infrastructure across Regional Victoria has not always kept pace. Across central Victoria, clubs are welcoming more players than ever before, particularly women and girls, while competing for limited access to suitable playing surfaces and training space.
Despite limitations at Chewton Soldier’s Memorial Park, the Castlemaine Goldfields FC has grown by 74 per cent since 2019 and now supports more than 650 participants across junior, senior and female football. Female participation alone has increased by almost 120 per cent over the same period, highlighting the changing face of football across regional Victoria as more young girls and families gravitate towards our game.
Outlining the challenges presented by such extreme growth, Castlemaine Goldfields FC Secretary Edwina Reid noted “With 25 teams from Under 10s through to seniors, plus more than 160 MiniRoos, all sharing one pitch, we are currently limited in the opportunities we can provide. We have to cap participation and can offer only one training session per week, which is difficult for a club that wants to welcome as many people as possible into the game.”
Adding details on the club’s aim “to focus on participation, inclusion and player development...We are not asking for anything excessive, just a safe, reliable place for our community to play football.”
Mount Alexander Shire Council has identified Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve as a long-term home for the club and undertaken the necessary planning works to explore further development of the Elsie Palmer fields for future use. The current planning process proposes two football pitches alongside a cricket oval and new floodlighting, creating a facility capable of supporting multiple sports, increased participation, expanded competitions and greater community use throughout the year.
Edwina added that “An upgraded Wesley Hill facility would directly support CGFC’s ability to grow football participation across Mount Alexander Shire. Better facilities would allow more children, young people and adults to access quality programs more often, in an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive. It would also free our volunteers to focus on coaching, development and creating positive football experiences, rather than constantly managing cancellations, venue changes, pitch repairs and refixturing. With improved facilities, CGFC could continue to expand our programs and further contribute to building a healthier more connected community through football.”
The project represents more than new sporting infrastructure; it is an investment in regional communities and regional families. Investment in sporting facilities help retain young people, encourage healthier lifestyles, create volunteer opportunities and strengthen social connections throughout Castlemaine and the surrounding townships.
Head of Government Relations Lachlan Cole highlighted that “the proposal aligns directly with Football Victoria's Facilities Strategy 2025 to 2035, where we identified regional infrastructure investment as essential to ensuring football remains accessible regardless of postcode. Supporting projects like Wesley Hill will ensure regional clubs have the same opportunities to grow as their metropolitan counterparts.”
Football Victoria is encouraging the Victorian Government to partner with Mount Alexander Shire Council and the local community to deliver a pitch redevelopment that will unleash the full weight of football participation across Castlemaine and the Mount Alexander Shire.