Story via: www.theleader.com.au

Works on the installation of a synthetic field at Ador Avenue started on Monday with St George Football Association officials hopeful the project will be finished in time for finals.

The SGFA received a $2 million Federal Government grant to fund the project at Rockdale in 2016 before asking Bayside Council to manage the design and construction process.

The facility will include a synthetic football pitch, fencing, seating and a raised viewing area. With designs complete and the project tendered, construction started on Monday with the project expected to be completed by September.

The council will also make some improvements to the field’s storm water drainage to resolve an existing flooding issue and also alleviate the impact of the flood levels associated with raising the field.

“Ador Avenue will be the first synthetic sports field the association will hold a permit for which will allow the facility to be accessible to the 9,000-strong football community,” SGFA general manager Craig Kiely said.

“This has been something that SGFA and our member clubs have campaigned a number of years for and we are excited that it is now going to be delivered with the support of the Federal Government and Bayside Council.

 “The synthetic field will have outstanding, long-term benefits for football but also local school groups. It can potentially provide more than three times the use of a natural grass field and provides the association increased flexibility to schedule training and local competition matches, particularly during the winter when our competitions can be affected significantly due to wet weather. This will in turn take the pressure off other natural grass fields.

This has been something that SGFA and our member clubs have campaigned a number of years for.

SGFA general manager Craig Kiely

“We are hopeful that the project will be delivered in time for the 2018 local finals in August and our Summer Football program which will kick off in late September.”

Bayside Council Mayor Bill Saravinovski said he was pleased the work was finally going ahead.

“A lot of work has gone into this project and I am sure it will be a major boost for local sports clubs, our rising sports stars and our community,” he said.