INVESTMENT in soccer infrastructure is reaching fever pitch across the northern and western suburbs, as councils work hard to keep up with the game's growing popularity.
In Hume, soccer is booming. The municipality has 1206 registered players - the second-highest number in the state's north-west. Brimbank is No.1 with 2781 players.
A north-west soccer strategy report earmarked the John Ilhan Reserve at Broadmeadows Valley Park as a potential site to be developed as a regional soccer centre.
In the past three years, Hume Council has spent more than $1million improving its soccer facilities.
Projects have included $750,000 to install a synthetic soccer pitch at Broadmeadows Valley Park, training lights at Langama Park Reserve, and warm-season grass conversions on several pitches, including Gibb and Tullamarine reserves.
"There are new soccer facilities planned in the growth areas of the city to accommodate demand for the sport," city infrastructure director Steve Crawley said.
"Council's leisure strategy has identified a growth in the sport, including the need for 11 additional pitches over the next five to 10 years.
"This includes one new development to a regional standard to be built in Cragieburn."
At Melton Shire it's a similar story. The council has spent almost $4million in the past three years on soccer-related infrastructure, including five synthetic pitches and two turf training fields.
This year the shire opened the $1.8million Springside recreation precinct in Caroline Springs, which has two synthetic soccer pitches, and the $2.1million Kurranjang and Brookside recreation reserves, which have a total of three pitches.
Leisure and library services manager Adam Boyle said the shire was planning for further growth in the sport, now ranked in the shire behind Australian rules, golf and tennis.
Wyndham has forked out millions of dollars in the past three years to prepare for a surge in juniors taking up the game.
A council-commissioned report in 2007 said an extra 15 soccer pitches would be needed by 2016 to meet demand.
Last year, the council unveiled its $1.06million Grange Reserve synthetic soccer pitch project, which features a senior-sized synthetic pitch and competition-standard lighting.
Three new soccer pitches, including one synthetic, will be completed by next year at Arndell Park Reserve at a cost of $3.5million.
Other projects include two new soccer pitches and a sports pavilion at Innisfail Reserve in Point Cook, an additional senior pitch at Galvin Park in Werribee, and a feasibility study to investigate building a regional soccer hub with up to four pitches at Lawrie Emmins Reserve in Laverton North.
More established areas such as Maribyrnong and Brimbank are also keeping up with the surge. Brimbank, which has the most people playing soccer in the west, opened its $1.9million Keilor Park Recreation Reserve last December.
The venue has two FIFA-approved synthetic soccer fields.
Maribyrnong Council has not spent any money on new pitches in the past three years, instead poured funding into maintaining its existing fields.
Sustainable development general manager John Luppino said the game was continually growing.
"Since 2006, participation has increased by 31per cent and by 2011 we anticipate a further 33per cent increase."
Hobsons Bay has nine clubs in the municipality, seven of which have had an increase in team numbers since 2000.
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