The centre of Golden Plains Shire is shining bright with the new lighting towers at Rokewood Recreation Reserve completed and switched on, ready for the return of local community sport.
The four new lighting towers at the Reserve meet the AFL standard for local football training and matches, improving safety and allowing for the full oval to be used for training. The upgrade will support the Rokewood Corindhap Football and Netball Club and Reserve committee to grow and strengthen membership and schedule night matches, training sessions and events once community sport resumes.
Council partnered with the Victorian Government to deliver the upgrade, which was funded by $169,258 from the Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, and $115,000 from Council. In the past year, Council has also upgraded the irrigation and cricket wicket at Rokewood Recreation Reserve.
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the Rokewood Corindhap Football and Netball club, visiting teams and locals will all benefit from the lighting upgrade once community sport resumes.
“The Rokewood Recreation Reserve is an important hub for local and community sport and Council is pleased to have completed a suite of works here over the past year with the new oval lighting, irrigation works, security lighting and the upgraded cricket wicket.
“When community sport returns, these terrific new lighting towers will make a huge difference for the players and supporters of the Rokewood Corindhap Football Netball Club, as well as visiting teams from the Central Highlands League and Rokewood locals.
“Thank you to the Victorian Government for partnering with Council to make this important project a reality for our residents in Rokewood and the centre of Golden Plains Shire.”
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle MP made the Victorian Government’s funding announcement to appreciative club members at the Rokewood Recreation Reserve in April 2019 and now welcomes the completion of the lighting project.
“It’s fantastic to see these lights ready for the return of community sport.”
“An investment in community sport is an investment in community health. This new lighting will give locals the ability to play and train at night, something that will provide long-term health benefits for the community well into the future”
“We know how important it is to fund regional sporting facilities, and this funding for Rokewood Recreation Reserve – the only public multi-use facility in Rokewood – will make sport more accessible for all.”
In the past few years, Golden Plains Shire Council has actively lobbied for and delivered sports lighting upgrades across the Shire. In May, the new and upgraded lights on both Victoria Park ovals in Bannockburn were switched on. In 2019, the lighting upgrade at the Linton Recreation Reserve was completed and the Federal Government made a commitment for the installation of lights at Lethbridge Recreation Reserve. In Inverleigh, local sporting clubs have enjoyed the new lights at the Inverleigh Sporting Complex since early 2018.
Photo (left) courtesy of the Rokewood Corindhap Football and Netball Club. Photo (top of page) courtesy of DeAraugo & Lea Electrical Contractors (VIC) Pty Ltd.