'Exceeded its life': ACT government reveals state of Hawker

It's an "absolute rabble" and "not safe".

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The ACT government has also admitted Hawker's synthetic soccer pitch should've been replaced seven years ago.

Liberals MLA Peter Cain, right, is going to call on ACT Sports Minister Chris Steel invest in Hawker Football Centre. Pictures by Keegan Carroll, Karleen Minney

The Hawker Football Centre is the latest Canberra sportsground to come under fire.

So much so, Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain has called on ACT Sports Minister Chris Steel to invest in it.

In a letter to Cain obtained by The Canberra Times, Steel admitted Hawker was one of a number of soccer facilities in the ACT that was "reaching or exceeding their anticipated lifecycle".

The government, which owns Hawker but leases it to Capital Football on a month-by-month arrangement, clarified the synthetic pitch's "recommended design life" was about 10 years.

It was built in 2009 and the surface hasn't been replaced since, although it was renovated in 2018.

The government said the surface hadn't been deemed unsafe and it was up to Capital Football to maintain and repair the pitch.

Capital Football pays $1000 a year to lease the facility.

Hawker's state was one of the reasons Canberra's biggest soccer clubs pushed for a vote of no confidence in Capital Football at this year's annual general meeting.

Capital Football chief executive Samantha Farrow didn't return The Canberra Times' calls, although she said at the AGM there were no plans to stop using Hawker.

"The synthetic pitch has not been deemed unsafe for its original intended use," ACT government spokesperson said.

"The surface has exceeded its original recommended design life of approximately 10 years, however this does not automatically mean the surface is unsafe or unsuitable for use.

"The condition of the facility continues to be monitored by the ACT government through normal asset-management processes."

Cain visited Hawker on Friday and wants the government to come up with a timeline to fix it.

But at this stage there are no plans to do so.

Capital Football could have to pay to replace the surface when its lease ends, although the government didn't specify what would determine who was responsible to cover the costs.

"Responsibility for future renewal, resurfacing or replacement of the synthetic surface is determined by the current lease arrangements and the ownership of improvements on the site," a government spokesperson said.

"The lease does not require the ACT government to automatically replace the synthetic surface when it reaches the end of its design life.

"The lease also does not require the lessee to automatically replace the synthetic surface at lease expiry on the basis it has reached the end of its recommended life.

"Under the lease, the lessee is responsible for maintaining and repairing improvements during the term of the lease and complying with any surrender and make-good requirements at the cessation of the lease.

The non-female friendly change rooms have also come under fire. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"Any future decision regarding resurfacing, replacement or upgrade of the synthetic pitch would be considered in accordance with the lease arrangements, asset condition assessments, operational requirements and available funding."

It's not just the pitch the soccer community is unhappy with, but the change rooms as well.

Several club representatives were scathing of Hawker's state.

"It's the only facility that Capital Football effectively has been granted by ACT government for its exclusive use," one representative said.

"You walk into the change room and it's an absolute rabble.

"It's not well looked after... there's definitely some improvement that can be had.

"That's why you've got the clubs coming together and the no-confidence vote - it's all linked."

Someone else noted: "Hawker is not safe. They haven't done anything to it in over 10 years."

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