Sustainable Sport NEWS

Kardinia Park, home to AFL Premiers Geelong Football Club, will be kept green through sustainable stormwater reuse technology.

A just completed stormwater project, which has received $840,000 of Australian Government funding, was revealed earlier this week by Member for Corio Richard Marles, who explained that the scheme would improve the security of the park's water supply.

"The new water harvesting infrastructure will capture will up to 20 million litres of water a year, reducing reliance on potable water and allowing the park to be watered during dry conditions.

"After Geelong's great premiership victory, it's wonderful we can ensure the facilities here are maintained at the highest level, setting the scene for future premiership success."

The project will divert the equivalent of about eight Olympic-sized swimming pools of stormwater each year into underground storage. The stored water will be treated and used to irrigate the stadium, the two outer ovals and parklands in the vicinity. The turf will also be replaced with drought-tolerant grass to lower the demand for watering.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, said the $840,000 provided by the Australian Government for the Kardinia Park project was part of a $2.79 million federal investment in the broader Geelong's Plan stormwater scheme.

Senator Farrell explained "the Kardinia Park project is one of five stormwater harvesting projects being partially funded in the City of Greater Geelong.

"These grants will fund projects that help secure urban water supplies, ease pressure on drinking water and improve the quality of urban waterways."

It has also been announced that, as of 1st November, Cats' home ground will be known as Simonds Stadium.

Simonds, Victoria's most-awarded homebuilder and long-time sponsor of the Geelong Cats, replaces staffing company the Skilled Group as the stadium's naming rights sponsor.

Simonds Homes Director Gary Simonds explains "we've been a coach sponsor for the last six years and we're proud to have helped the club achieve the success it has. So given our passion for the Geelong Football Club and our company's commitment to the area, this was a natural step to take."

In announcing this deal Geelong Cats Chief Executive, Brian Cook added that we "are proud to be associated with three generations of the Simonds' family in this new naming rights partnership of our stadium.

"We feel very comfortable naming the ground Simonds Stadium within Kardinia Park, as the Simonds brand is highly regarded nationwide for quality and value for money."

12th August 2010 - COALITION’S SKILLED STADIUM COMMITMENT SPARKS STORM