Junior football teams and little athletics clubs set to benefit from $1.3m Cockburn park upgrades

A major upgrade to Santich Park in Cockburn will support a growing population of young footballers, a club president says.

Cockburn council has awarded a tender to Ertech Pty Ltd for more than $1.3 million in works, including new sports floodlighting and a 45-bay car park.

Minor upgrades to a nearby intersection, realignment of existing Australian rules goals and the relocation of a playground will also occur when works begin in coming months.

South Coogee Junior Football Club president Andrew Geddes said the improvements at the Lake Coogee training grounds would support their growing number of teams.

The club fields between 19 and 23 teams each season, meaning more than 600 young members train at the Santich Park grounds weekly.

“We’ve been advocating for lights on the second oval now for a number of years,” Mr Geddes said.

“It really does (impact) the amount of usage we can get on the ground, particularly over the winter, the deeper winter months, when we can’t train on the second oval beyond six o’clock because it gets too dark.”

The changes will also help the Cockburn Little Athletics Club, which uses the 5.6ha Santich Park through summer.

Mr Geddes said more parking bays would reduce how many cars are forced to park on surrounding residents’ verges during busy game days.

“We have a good relationship with the neighbours around the oval and they’re very patient on those very busy days, but having the extra parking will certainly take the pressure off there and just allow the experience to be a little bit more enjoyable for everyone,” he said.

Mr Geddes said 2024 would also be the first year the club offers a Starkick All Abilities program.

“We’re very excited to see how that goes,” he said.

“Going forward, one of the club’s main aims has been about participation and how we increase that in Australian rules football.”