New lights officially switched on

A YEARS long process to improve facilities for junior footballers at Lethbridge Recreation Reserve, home of the Rosellas, is complete with new lights and drainage at the site officially unveiled last week.

The event drew in players, supporters and their families, along with dignitaries from all levels of government.

Lethbridge Junior Football Club secretary Sharon Boyd said the completion of the project marked a major milestone for the Rosellas.

“It’s great,” she said. “It has been a very long journey, my eldest son started playing here 14 years ago, and we had no lights. I honestly didn’t believe I would ever see lights out here.

“The kids love it and it’s been better for our volunteers because they don’t have to finish work early,  so there’s a lot more flexibility.”

At $450,000, the final bill for four 50-lux light towers which are good enough for AFL level training, and subsurface drainage works, at the rec reserve’s main oval was split between State, Federal and local government.

The Victorian Government put in $250,000 from the Local Sport Infrastructure Fund, the Feds $100,000 via their Community Development Grants Program, and Golden Plains Shire contributed a further $100,000.

As the largest financial backer of the project, State Government representative and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the works were about helping the club and community grow.

“The Rosellas are such a fantastic young group and to have these lights means they can expand,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the Rosellas’ seniors not to far away. It’s really important to plan for the future.

“If you don’t have these facilities you’re not going to be able to grow these teams. Lethbridge as an area is growing.”

Back in 2019, lighting at the ground became a Federal election issue with then Liberal Member for Corangamite, and now Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson, and eventual winner of the seat Libby Coker both pledging works at the ground.

Fast forward almost two years and both attended the unveiling event.

Ms Henderson said the capital works had many benefits.

“I was so proud to have committed $100,000, which got the ball rolling in terms of the upgrade,” she said.

“Now we’ve got a fully-fledged lighting and irrigation upgrade and an incredible facility for the people of Lethbridge, but particularly junior sport.

“Every community matters. Not only have we made a commitment that the people of Lethbridge deserve, but we also got the ball rolling in terms of delivering a much bigger project.”

As the capital works went across all three levels of government, Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Helena Kirby said they were a good example of collaboration.

“Council is grateful to have been able to partner with our State and Federal governments to deliver this exciting project, which will provide great benefits for the Rosellas and locals,” she said.

And the work at the Lethbridge Recreation Reserve is not done yet as now it’s the cricket club’s turn according to Ms Settle.

“I was really pleased today to announce a further $170,000 for the cricket nets,” she said. “We’re building three cricket nets. That’s a Golden Plains Shire and State Government initiative.

“One-hundred-thousand dollars from us [State Government], but a really important $20,000 from that club. That’s a whole lot of sausage sizzles.”