New lights for west Moorabool sports grounds

FOUR ovals used by Central Highlands Football League clubs at the western end of Moorabool Shire have received lighting upgrades.

That means when COVID-19 restrictions ease and the players and coaches are able to get back out on the park, things will be even brighter for clubs at Dunnstown, Bungaree, Wallace and Gordon.

During the pandemic lockdown each of those clubs have had 30-metre light towers installed, with Bungaree and Dunnstown getting 150-lux lighting systems, while Gordon and Wallace received 100-lux kits.

“The grounds are predominantly used by the football clubs in winter and cricket clubs in summer, and the players at these clubs had been training at nights under pretty poor lighting conditions,” said Moorabool Shire’s Cr Tom Sullivan.

“The lighting levels were non-uniform across the playing surfaces which impacted on player safety, and there was ground deterioration on the parts of the ovals that were adequately lit.

“These new light towers will light up the whole oval, providing a safer and bigger space for training and playing.”

Cr Lawry Borgelt said the new lighting meant people could use the community facilities for longer.

“One of the drawbacks of having a poorly lit oval was it limited the time players could train on it. These new light towers can keep them on the track for longer,” he said.

The capital works at Dunnstown and Bungaree were funded through “significant” contributions by the respective clubs.

Other money for the projects came from the municipality as well as the State government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme.