Lighting upgrade for sports reserve

LEFT: Plans to improve lighting at Collendina sports ground secured $200,000 funding last year through Pick My Project to install two additional light towers. Bellarine MP Lisa Neville is pictured here with club members.

THE installation of LED lighting at Collendina Reserve will allow sport to be safely played at night while cutting energy use.

The City of Greater Geelong is managing a $200,000 upgrade of the lighting infrastructure at the sports oval, which is home to the Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras Junior Football Club and the Collendina Cricket Club.

The project proposes to remove existing lighting infrastructure at the Minerva Close complex and replace it with four new LED light towers.

While the environmentally-friendly technology will improve lighting levels, it will also reduce energy consumption and be cheaper to run than a traditional equivalent halogen installation.

The LED lighting system also improves efficiency by distributing light exactly where it needs to go, lowering glare and spilling less light into surrounding areas.

Cr Jim Mason said he was very pleased that the ‘spotlight’ in the form of LED environmentally-friendly lighting was on the Collendina Reserve and the Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras Junior Football Club.

“I applaud the energetic community in Collendina and beyond who have put in so much work for their facilities and for their community,” Mr Mason said.

“Their community spirit and commitment is an example to all of us.”

The upgrade will help cater to the rapid growth of football in the local area, which has been driven by a large uptake of participation among women and girls.

It was one of 13 projects in the Greater Geelong region that shared in a combined $1.37 million in state government funding through the ‘Pick My Project’ program.

The City is working with the Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras Junior Football Club to install the towers at their home ground towards the end of 2019.

Before finalising details of the project, the City is receiving submissions from the community via geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay until July 21.

More information or submissions can be made via emailing [email protected].

au or by phoning the city’s Social Planning and Investment department on 5272 5272.