This case study relates to Action 40 in the Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3.
The State Football Centre (now known as the Sam Kerr Football Centre) is a world-class facility designed to meet international standards and was used as a training ground for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Development of the Football Centre aimed to increase the overall environmental value of the Queens Park Open Space site in the City of Canning through better protection, restoration and management of retained bushland areas.
The project aimed to minimise impacts to natural vegetation and fauna and took into consideration wetland preservation and best practice urban water management and drainage principles. Environmental and water management plans were developed and implemented to ensure all necessary measures were taken to manage and monitor environmental assets and hydrological features that were directly impacted by the building works.[1]
Working with the Yunga Foundation, the project established an Aboriginal Reference Group comprising of Whadjuk representatives. The reference group provided valuable input relating to Aboriginal culture for the Sam Kerr Football Centre project. Ongoing maintenance and management post-construction were also well considered.
Measures to ensure integrated water cycle management included:
- waer supply and conservation
- stormwater management
- groundwater management
- water quality management
- environmental asset protection.
Within the development site there was a semi-constructed basin that collected water runoff from the centre and surrounding areas – creating a ‘wetland’ which was home to several snake-necked turtles. Prior to clearing the site, these turtles were collected and cared for offsite while construction works took place. During and after construction, revegetation of the area occurred, and it now provides fringing vegetation and some cover to the ‘wetland’. In April 2023, 22 turtles (one believed to be about 80 years old) and three hatchlings were successfully returned to the drainage basin on site, where they now reside permanently.
[1] Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (2024), Sam Kerr Football Centre, DLGSC website, accessed 25 July 2024
