Smashing sixes with new nets and lighting
Drouin’s cricket and soccer players will soon be smashing sixes and finding the back of the net, thanks to the construction of four multi-purpose synthetic cricket nets at Bellbird Park and the installation of lighting in both Drouin and Trafalgar.
The $500,000 cost of the two lighting projects for the soccer grounds that involved installation of 10 new light towers was funded by Baw Baw shire council and the State Sports and Recreation department.
The clubs that use the grounds have combined player memberships of more than 430 and the new lighting replaces previous facilities that were no longer compliant with standards.
It will enable teams to train and play regardless of the time of day.
Drouin Dragons Soccer Club will see lighting installed at both senior and junior pitches, while Trafalgar Victory Soccer Club will see the final two light towers installed on the second pitch at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve.
The project is planned for delivery in the second half of 2019.
Drouin Dragons Soccer Club president Jason Beer said having pitch lighting on both fields would allow the club to host evening matches.
“With extra lights, the club can also utilise both pitches for training which will help cater for and future proof the continuing growth of the club,” he said.
“Most importantly, the better visibility means a safer ground for players.”
Trafalgar Victory Soccer Club president Lachlan Wyatt said completion of lighting will greatly improve both training and game day capacity and provide the club with much greater flexibility in terms of pitch maintenance.
New cricket nets were installed at Bellbird Park, headquarters of the Drouin cricket club, and at the Drouin recreation reserve when the facility will be available for public use as well the cricket club.
Baw Baw council contributed almost $144,500 towards the total cost of $223,000 with the state government providing the balance.
Mayor Joe Gauci and councillors were joined at Bellbird Park at Drouin for the official opening by Member of Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing ahead of cricketers’ Thursday evening practice session.
The nets at Bellbird Park have several cricket pitches with retractable netting that allows the area to be opened up for a variety of uses including by other sporting codes and community groups.
The project saw the removal of existing wickets and construction of five new pitches at Bellbird Park, with one to remain open for community use.
The fully-fenced complex includes dynamic features such as retractable dividing nets, heavy duty synthetic turf, rubber matting to protect balls and a weatherproof electrical outlet for bowling machines.
Old wickets were also removed at Drouin Recreation Reserve with a pitch for community use constructed.
Drouin Cricket Club president Kym Osseweyer said the new complex will provide more dynamic training facilities for players and allow the club to cater for continued growth and development.
Ms Shing said the previous nets were in disrepair and inhibited training and the cricket club’s ability to attract new players.