Construction on the Victoria Park Recreation Reserve Sports Lighting project in Bannockburn kicked up a gear last week.
Digging began for the lighting tower footings that will be installed around Oval 2. Each footing will be three metres deep, which requires the use of a 20-tonne excavator, with a core barrel attachment to penetrate the shallow rock that exists at the site.
The $439,840 project is fully funded by the Federal Government’s Community Sport Infrastructure grant program, which will upgrade the lighting on Oval 1 and deliver four new lighting poles on Oval 2, for training and night matches of the Bannockburn Football and Netball Club. Golden Plains Shire Council successfully secured the maximum amount of funding available through the program’s second round.
The existing sports oval lighting on one field at the Reserve does not meet the minimum standard for participation, is unsafe and negatively impacts the experience of current users. The poor lighting quality has also restricted key sporting clubs, including the Bannockburn Football Netball Club and Bannockburn Cricket Club, growing their membership and limited their capacity to schedule matches, training and events. The lighting upgrade at Victoria Park was identified as a priority in the G21 AFL Barwon Regional Strategy with the existing oval lighting listed among the poorest in the region.
The new lighting on both ovals will meet the AFL standard for community football and surpass the minimum requirements for local football training and matches. The lighting upgrade will complement the dedicated change facilities for men and women, the redeveloped cricket training facility and new netball and multi-sport courts at the Reserve.
Golden Plains Shire Council has been actively lobbying for sports lighting funding across the Shire. Earlier this year, the lighting upgrade at the Linton Recreation Reserve was completed; the Federal Government made a commitment for the installation of lights at Lethbridge Recreation Reserve; and the State Government announced its partnership with Council to deliver a light upgrade at Rokewood Recreation Reserve. In Inverleigh, local sporting clubs have been enjoying the new lights at the Inverleigh Sporting Complex since early last year.