Two local sporting clubs are set to receive game-changing upgrades to their reserves with both the federal government and opposition committing funds towards essential works.
As part of the fresh election pledge made by the Labor candidate for Gorton Alice Jordan-Baird on April 10, $600,000 will be put towards improving lighting at Brimbank’s Lionheart Reserve and Keilor Recreation Reserve Oval.
An elected Liberal government will also back those works, with an investment of $550,000.
Both sites will get competition-standard and energy-efficient LED lighting which will improve overall safety and visibility.
They will also bring the lighting systems up to national standards for AFL.
Welcoming both announcements, Taylors Lakes Football Club vice president Matt Noy said it would support the growing demand for sports activities in the community.
“It means a lot to us because we’ve been advocating for these improvements for two years,” he said.
“It’s fantastic for so many reasons – it’s great from a safety point of view but it will also help us build our club.
“We’ve worked so hard to develop our programs and this would be crucial for us in improving facilities, and improving our registrations.”
The Caroline Springs Recreation Reserve would also be a recipient of $186,000 in funding if the federal government retains office.
The funds would support a lighting and scoreboard upgrade for the reserve.
The current scoreboard at the reserve is no longer up to AFL standard and the upgrades are necessary to support the club to host men’s, women’s and youth games in the WFNL competition next season.
The improved lighting will also support night games and more training sessions at the reserve.
Caroline Springs Lakers Football and Netball Club president Terry Azzopardi said it was “exciting and relieving” to receive the news.
“It takes a lot of effort to raise that kind of money for a sporting club,” he said.
“For us it’s really huge — it’s probably the biggest thing since the extension of our club rooms which was about seven eight years ago
“It’ll also showcase what our club is about, keep us relevant and keep us afloat.”
