Work on the $13.1 million Langford Indoor Sports Centre, Gosnells’ first indoor multi-court facility, has officially begun with a sod-turning ceremony marking the start of construction last weekend.
The Langford Sporting Complex, expected to be ‘state-of-the-art’, will feature a new indoor show court for netball with a 200-seat grandstand alongside three multi-sport courts suitable for netball, basketball, badminton, and volleyball.
It will also include a community hall, change rooms, an umpires’ room, a kiosk, a first aid room, administration offices, a match office and storage areas.
Following years of campaigning and planning, Mayor Terresa Lynes said the local community is thrilled to see the project come to fruition.
“The centre will provide great opportunities for people in the City and beyond to play the sports they love, including netball, badminton, volleyball and basketball, all year round – regardless of the weather,” Mayor Lynes said.
“We know this new centre will be appreciated by many in the sports community, and it is exciting to see this project come to life.”
Construction is expected to be complete by August 2025, and once finished, the facility will serve as the new home of the Southern Districts Netball Association (SDNA).
Mary Cash, life member and head of finance at the Southern Districts Netball Association, expressed her gratitude for the support behind the project.
“I’d like to thank the state government, the federal government and everyone who’s put the finance in,” Ms Cash said.
“This has been a long time coming, and Southern Districts has done a wonderful job. We’re all really looking forward to the new netball centre.”
With Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallists Courtney Bruce and Caitlin Basset having come from the club, Ms Cash believes the new facility will help nurture and produce even more elite netballers and that the sport is in good shape.
“Each year, we have an increase in the number of young kids coming through, which is more so than any other association,” Ms Cash said.
“So many more champions will come out of this association, but I think more importantly, many more young children are playing the game now than they used to.”
Before the demolition of the old club rooms, which is now underway in the building, players and staff, both past and present, took time to sign and leave messages on a memory wall to say farewell to the building that has produced so many cherished memories.
Until the new facility is complete, the SDNA will continue operating from Langford with temporary accommodation.
The project is being funded by $5 million in federal funding under the Priority Community Infrastructure Program, $1.5 million from the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund program, and $6.7 million from the City of Gosnells.
Member for Burt Matt Keogh said he was proud to have contributed to the project, which he described as long overdue for the people of the south-eastern suburbs who deserve an elite sporting facility.
“That’s what this project is all about, making sure our community gets the infrastructure and facilities that we know it deserves,” Mr Keogh said.
“This new facility means the next generation of elite athletes in Perth’s south-east won’t have to miss out, with elite competition taking place right here in our backyard.”
