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The University of Western Australia will join forces with the State and Federal Governments to build a second synthetic turf hockey pitch at UWA Sports Park in Mount Claremont.

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy and State Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron today announced the project at UWA Sports Park.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said the University was pleased to be partnering with the Federal and State Governments to provide essential support for the ongoing development of hockey in Western Australia.

The Federal and State Governments will each contribute $500,000 to the project.  UWA will also contribute $500,000, which includes the use of the land at UWA Sports Park, while the State will provide an additional $45,000 for lighting.

"The installation of a second synthetic turf pitch will have immediate and longer term benefits for the local community as well as our top-level players," Professor Johnson said.

"It will provide an additional training venue for elite teams while also enabling us to host national and international tournaments and increase the capacity of UWA Sports Park as a hockey venue.

"This will ensure the sport can continue to grow and further encourage young sports people to reach their potential."

Professor Johnson said Western Australia had a long, strong and proud tradition of producing national and international hockey champions.

"UWA is particularly proud that Australia's national team, the Kookaburras, will feature the talents of UWA graduate Ric Charlesworth as coach and UWA engineering/commerce student Fergus Kavanagh as a player at next month's Olympic Games in London," he said.

The new pitch will be built next to the existing UWA hockey clubrooms and is expected to be completed for the 2013 hockey season.

Media references

Alana Pham (UWA Campus Development)   (+61 8)  6488 7544  /  (+61 4) 07 993 931
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783