Margaret River's sporting community is celebrating this week after the announcement of the final stage of funding to begin construction of a new training facility in the Shire.
Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray arrived in Margaret River on the weekend to confirm a $334,289 contribution from the State Government.
The funds will be used to finalise the project to install a new synthetic turf half-pitch with lighting, after decades of travel to locations outside the Shire for youth and adult training and games.
"This is a huge, huge moment for the Margaret River Hockey Club," said president Colin Fox.
"It is the culmination of countless hours of hard work, fundraising, speaking with the community, councillors and the State and Federal governments.
"We now have the future in our hands, we can train in our own town which will cut travelling costs and time.
"We will have a world class surface we can build the club on, we have all the opportunity in the world to grow and extend our club and skills.
"This is a magnificent thing bringing the community together. This means the world to us, we're over the moon."
The half-pitch is to be located at Gloucester Park, adjacent to the bowling club.
The total cost of the project is $1,002,869.
Club fundraising and sponsorship officer Maxine Williams said the project would not have been green lit without the backing of locals and businesses.
"Today I'd like to say a huge thank you to all of those who have helped us along the way over the last 18 months, to make this turf project happen.
"This includes all the local businesses, supporters and community clubs that have helped contribute major donations, and even buying sausage sizzles from us at the Farmers Market, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Mr Murray commended project leaders and supporters for their efforts.
"This is a much-needed facility for the Augusta-Margaret River area, and I expect it will be well used and appreciated," he said. "Both the Shire and club are also to be commended for committing to a sinking fund for future works at the facility."
Shire President Ian Earl said the new half field was a coup for the whole region.
"A local hockey pitch has been long sought after by the local hockey club whose 150 members travelled to Busselton to train and play," he said.
"I'm so pleased for both the players and the general community to see the development of sport in our Shire.
"It's not just about current players, but for young kids and prospective players who might be looking for different sporting pursuits to try out locally.
"Thank you to the minister and the state government for contribution."We look forward to getting the project underway in the coming months."
Margaret River Hockey Club Secretary Debbie Storey echoed the sentiments of Mr Fox and Mrs Williams.
"This means to much to the club, we can go back to the good old days of lots of kids playing hockey for Margaret River, it's going to create a great vibe around Gloucester Park!"
The Margaret River Hockey Club extends its thanks to the following supporters of the project, without whom the training facility could not have become a reality.
- Augusta Margaret River Sports & Recreation Advisory Committee
- Busselton Hockey Association
- Football Margaret River
- Margaret River Bowling Club
- Margaret River Gropers Rugby Club
- Augusta Primary School
- Cowaramup Primary School
- Karridale Primary School
- Margaret River Independent School
- Margaret River Montessori School
- Margaret River Primary School
- Margaret River Senior High School
- Rapids Landing Primary School
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
- Augusta Butchering Co
- Augusta Margaret River Mail
- Augusta Margaret River Times
- Brumby's Margaret River
- Dominos Pizza Margaret River
- Dotch Dis Productions
- Inclusion Solutions
- Just Hockey
- Woolworths Margaret River
- Calibre Consultants
- Halsall & Associates
- Hockey WA
- Leeuwin Civil
- Margaret River Cowaramup Electrical Service
- Margaret River Structural Engineering
- MNG Surveys
- Tiger Turf
- Trade Hire Margaret River
- Willcox Architects
- Bendigo Bank Augusta & Districts
- Fusion Electrical
- Jarvis Estate
- Middleton Consulting Accountants
- Mitre 10 Margaret River
- SportsPower Margaret River
- Yahava Koffeworks Margaret River
- Lions of Cowaramup
- Lions of Leeuwin (Augusta)
- Lions of Margaret River
- Rotary Club of Margaret River
- Mick Murray MLA
- Nola Marino MP
- Terry Redman MLA
- Australian Sports Commission
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Shire of Augusta Margaret River