Moreland Zebras

Moreland Council is pleased to announce that DeChene Reserve in Coburg will be upgraded to a soccer facility and the newly named Moreland Zebras will use it from the beginning of the 2013 season as its home base, filling a permanent vacancy left open for over 10 years.

Formerly known as the Whittlesea Zebras, the Moreland Zebras were granted the coveted facility after a rigorous selection process, where interested clubs needed to meet requirements outlined in Council’s Sporting Ground and Pavilion Allocation Policy.

Cr Oscar Yildiz, Councillor responsible for Sport and Leisure, welcomed the news:

“This is an excellent facility that will benefit from having a strong club like the Moreland Zebras as its tenant.

“The Moreland Zebras have met the requirements under our ground allocation policy and we wish them a bright and prosperous future in the city of Moreland,” Cr Yildiz added.

Cr Yildiz also recognises that work done by Council officers who balance the needs of clubs and sporting groups across the municipality.

“Soccer is booming and Moreland is the municipality with the second highest number of teams in any city across Victoria.

“We cater for 13 football clubs affiliated with Football Federation Victoria (FFV), collectively providing 197 teams in associated Leagues and competitions.

Accommodating the rapid growth and demand in soccer’s popularity particularly among juniors is challenging with clubs also exceeding their capacity so it is fitting that the sports field at DeChene Reserve is upgraded to a soccer facility,” Cr Yildiz said.

>From the inception of Council’s new policy in 2009, Council has accepted name changes from various clubs and sporting associations using Moreland as part of their title, therefore Council was satisfied that Moreland Zebras didn’t conflict with the current club in Brunswick and the name was accepted and registered by the FFV.

Moreland Zebras Football Club will be competing at the highest level competition being the Victorian Premier League and the name will be representative of the municipality no different to other teams (Dandenong Thunder, Hume City and Melbourne Knights) competing in the same competition. –Copy ends-

Works done at DeChene Reserve

Works at DeChene include an upgrade to the passive parkland (south of the sports field) incorporating picnic and play spaces, together with additional landscaping and footpaths. The scope of works for the DeChene project will also include renovation to the existing sports field. Renovation works on the oval is estimated at $500,000 and will include:
• 1x full size senior soccer pitch
• Irrigation and surface upgrade
• Sports field training lights
• Goal posts and interchange benches.
• Removal of 2 x turf cricket pitches
• Removal of cricket nets
• Removal of AFL football facilities


Carlos Ibarra
Media and Communications Officer | Moreland City Council