Soccer players will play and train better following the upgraded lighting at HR Uren Recreation Reserve in Thomastown.
City of Whittlesea Chief Executive Craig Lloyd joined Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny on July 18 to officially recognise the project’s completion.
Funded through a $300,000 grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria, the new LED lights will serve the synthetic pitch on the Reserve’s western side.
The works, which commenced in February, saw the old lights removed and replaced with four 25-metre-high light poles containing 100 lux lights.
The old lights utilised obsolete metal halide technology which were not only expensive to maintain, but had fallen below the minimum standard required for night matches.
Lalor United Sloga Football Club Liaison Officer Emil Atanasov said the upgraded lighting had provided the club with better flexibility with its scheduling of matches and training.
Mr Atanasov also noted the lights would help to gain and retain players whose participation relied on planning around their own commitments.
“A lot of people, particularly masters [45 years and older] and female players, want to play at night due to work and family commitments and these lights will allow that,” he said.
“We’re very happy with the support we’ve received from Council and the State Government to get these new lights installed.”
Mr Lloyd said Council was working with the State Government to make sure residents had the facilities they needed for organised and informed sporting activities.
“Providing quality community sporting facilities is an important part of lifting participation rates and encouraging people to live active, healthy lifestyles,” he said.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Sport and Recreation Victoria to install these lights so people have the chance to play the sport they love at a time that’s convenient for them.”