Two Athletics tracks in Western Australia, not nearly enough

As the debate rages about the funding at the elite level of stadiums in Western Australia, a thought must be spared for Athletics Western Australia who have just two athletics tracks in the state - both within the Perth metropolitan region.

However with construction to start at AK Reserve in July next year and a bid to build an athletics track at the Lark Hill project in Rockingham, the fortunes may be about to change. Austadiums.com spoke with Wayne Loxley the Chief Executive Officer of WA Athletics.

The criticism of the WA State Government is blunt, but with basis when you consider Geelong itself have two Athletics tracks and an economy nowhere near as strong as the booming Perth market. "The state government's view on sport is quite apathetic; we have been on the drawing board for 10-15 years...we are definitely under-resourced". 

Perry Lakes the site of the 1964 Empire Games, has seen better days, well much better days to be truthful and according to Loxley this impacts on the attendance of meets such as the National Meet Series in Perth.

"Our athletics meets at Perry Lakes, we have only one grandstand for people to sit in, other then that they have to sit in the sun on concrete seating".

The new facility will be a massive reward for the sport which has been suffering under the tired Perry Lakes venue for over 40 years now, with limited upgrades. With construction underway in July next year, a boutique stadium that is found in other states in Australia will finally make a welcome return to WA. Loxley believes that this will increase crowds.

"It will be a boutique stadium, in a new venue I would be confident of getting 4-5000 for a major meet".

But you can sense that Athletics WA is about to set on a boom period especially when you consider the exploits of Burgess and the fact he is the Number 1 Pole Vaulter in the World. Athletics WA confirmed it will be building the advertising based on the Pole Vault.

"That will be our main event that we look to promote on the card. We tried to get the Americans across for the 7th but that cuts into the European Season to much. They will be contesting local Perth meets though".

As the two tracks in Perth are withered and old, the view from WA Athletics is that the facilities actively discourage growth in the sport, but with the City of Rockingham about to launch into its large Lark Hill project; it is counting on state government approval to rectify the imbalance of athletics funding.

"We have has meetings with the City of Rockingham and they have been quite receptive, we just need the State Government to reply and see how much they wish to contribute".

"We've written back to the State Government and asked them to include Athletics in the project."

The launch of an athletics facility at the impressive Lark Hill development will provide a boon for athletics in the city, the venue is situated 12mins from Rockingham and 15mins from Mandurah, which is one of the fastest growing corridors in the country.

Loxley seems content but frustrated with the sport and the political games in play in regards to limited funding of the sport. But this is without saying; most state organisations within the country feel this way at some point in time.

The difference is, I think most states have a better per capita athletics facility record than Western Australia.

One track per one million citizens is beyond a joke.