Prospect Vale Park

Prospect Vale Park
Interactive map of Prospect Vale Park
Location2 Harley Parade, Prospect Vale, Tasmania, Australia
Coordinates41°29′11″S 147°07′21″E / 41.48646°S 147.12251°E / -41.48646; 147.12251
Area9.5 ha (23 acres)
OwnerMeander Valley Council
OperatorMeander Valley Council

Prospect Vale Park, also known as Prospect Park, is a multi-use sporting and recreational precinct in Prospect Vale, near Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. The council-managed park provides facilities for association football, Australian rules football and touch football, alongside public recreation areas. Its sporting users include Launceston City Football Club and the Prospect Hawks Junior Football Club.

Location and facilities

Prospect Vale Park is located at 2 Harley Parade, Prospect Vale, within the Meander Valley Council local government area. Meander Valley Council's 2012 development plan described the reserve as a 9.5-hectare (23-acre) regional sporting facility with association football pitches, an Australian rules football oval and touch football fields.

The park also provides a playground, walking and cycling paths, outdoor exercise equipment, cricket practice nets, picnic facilities and public toilets. The main soccer ground is at the northern end of the precinct, adjoining the Australian Italian Club premises.

History

Establishment of the soccer ground

Plans for new soccer facilities for Juventus were reported by The Mercury on 20 April 1977. The newspaper reported that the club and the Australian Italian Club were planning a $200,000 sporting complex in Launceston, incorporating a soccer ground and clubrooms. Juventus president Tom Strickland indicated that the club would upgrade its existing ground if the proposed facilities were not ready for the commencement of the 1978 State Soccer League.>

In 1978, Juventus entered the newly established statewide football competition under the name Launceston Juventus and relocated to newly developed association football facilities at Prospect Vale. Working with the Australian Italian Club, members and volunteers developed the playing ground and associated facilities. Former Juventus player and administrator Peter Mies was involved in securing the land and establishing the club's new home. Volunteers helped to clear and prepare the site, including its playing surface and change-room facilities.

Contemporary advertising published in The Examiner on 1 April 1978 announced the grand opening of the Prospect Soccer Complex by Juventus Soccer Club at 2 pm that day. The opening was scheduled to coincide with the inaugural round of the Radio Rentals State Soccer League, with Launceston Juventus due to host Caledonians at Prospect at 2:30 pm.

According to Launceston City FC, Meander Valley Council acquired the Prospect Vale Park sporting grounds from the Australian Italian Club in 2005; the club subsequently hired its playing grounds from the council.

Development of the precinct

Meander Valley Council adopted a long-term development plan for Prospect Vale Park in 2012. It addressed the condition and capacity of playing grounds, lighting, parking, access and informal recreation facilities.

In March 2021, the council announced completion of a $750,513 upgrade to the park's training grounds, including works to improve drainage, irrigation and playing surfaces. The Australian Government contributed $700,000 through its Community Development Grants Programme, with the balance funded by the council.

On 15 September 2024, a new change-room facility at Launceston City's ground was formally opened and named the Peter Mies Pavilion, honouring Mies's longstanding contribution to Tasmanian football and the establishment of the ground.

Council road and parking improvements continued during 2026. In October that year, Meander Valley Council announced the second stage of an internal road reconfiguration, including additional parking, with works scheduled to continue into February 2027.

Sports and events

The soccer facilities have been used by Launceston City for senior, junior and women's football, including home matches in the statewide National Premier Leagues Tasmania competition, previously known as the Victory League. The Australian rules football facilities are used by the Prospect Hawks Junior Football Club, while the park also accommodates touch football competitions.

Prospect Vale Park was designated as the venue for the 2026 Tasmanian Touch Football State Cup, scheduled for 14 and 15 February with junior and senior divisions competing over the same weekend.

Naming rights

Commercial naming rights have applied to individual sports grounds within Prospect Vale Park rather than to the entire precinct. The main soccer ground was known as Mitsubishi Park for more than 15 years before a 2017 proposal to adopt the name Buckby Land Rover Park under a new sponsorship agreement. The venue was subsequently referred to as Buckby Motors Park.

In 2024, Launceston City announced TassieCare Park as the sponsored name of its home ground. Football Tasmania used the sponsored name Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park in its 2026 match listings.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sports Fields & Complexes". Meander Valley Council. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Upgrades complete at Prospect Vale Park Training Grounds". Meander Valley Council. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 "About Us". Prospect Hawks Junior Football Club. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  4. ↑ "Prospect Vale Park Development Plan 2012: A 20 Year Vision". Meander Valley Council. 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2026 – via Doczz (document transcription).
  5. ↑ "Prospect Vale Park". Spirit of Tasmania. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  6. 1 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda, 11 April 2017 (PDF) (Report). Meander Valley Council. 11 April 2017. pp. 88–91. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Burnett, Gordon (20 April 1977). "Soccer club to get new facilities". The Mercury. p. 46.
  8. 1 2 "Hall of Fame 2025 – Peter Mies". Football Tasmania. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  9. 1 2 House of Assembly: Report of Debates, Wednesday 18 September 2024 (PDF) (Report). Parliament of Tasmania. 18 September 2024. pp. 116–117. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  10. ↑ "Juventus Soccer Club: Grand opening of Prospect Soccer Complex (advertisement)". The Examiner. 1 April 1978. p. 51.
  11. ↑ "Club History". Launceston City Football Club. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes, 12 November 2019 (PDF) (Report). Meander Valley Council. 12 November 2019. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  13. ↑ "Prospect Vale Park Road Reconfiguration (Stage 2)". Meander Valley Council. 14 October 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Player Registration". Launceston City Football Club. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  15. ↑ 2026 Touch Football Tasmania State Cup Competition Guidelines (PDF) (Report). Touch Football Tasmania. 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  16. ↑ "Welcome to TassieCare Park". LinkedIn. Launceston City Football Club. 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  17. ↑ "South Hobart and Devonport Ready for Final Showdown". Football Tasmania. 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.