Second oval a boost for sport

The second sporting oval in the Western Park precinct at Warragul has been officially opened.

The ground has been used for part of the recently completed cricket season and is now being utilised as a training oval by the Warragul and Warragul Industrials football teams.

Development of the ground and facilities cost just over $2 million.

Baw Baw shire council provided $1.37 million and the State government $640,000.

Mayor Mikaela Power and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing joined to conduct the formalities on site.

Sporting clubs that will utilise the new facility on the western side of Tarwin St and opposite the main Western Park complex include the Warragul and Warragul Industrials football clubs, Western Park cricket club and over 60 cricket team Gippsland Grunters.

In addition to the fully fenced oval sown with a mix of summer and winter grasses the project involved installation of four turf cricket pitches and an all-weather synthetic pitch, automated irrigation system, storage shed with kitchenette and unisex toilet, two coaches/players boxes, tiered spectator seating, AFL compliant goal posts and netting, additional safety netting around most of the ground, an electronic scoreboard, lighting for night training, a walking track and security and pedestrian lighting.

Cr Power praised the collaboration between the council, state government, tenant clubs and the committee of management in bringing the project to fruition.

The facility gives players and officials more than just a space to train and play; it shows they are part of a community that wants to see their clubs prosper, she said.