Extended hours for play and training, enhanced participation, along with increased opportunity for social cohesion are among the expected benefits as the City of Greater Geelong partners with the Victorian Government in hitting the switch on floodlighting at Osborne Park.
With a share in a $2.5 million injection from the Victorian Government's Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program for high-quality floodlighting across the City, North Geelong Football Club will now be able to expand its influence in the northern suburbs.
The City of Greater Geelong funded 10 per cent of the successful projects from within its 2020-2021 Budget in support of the Victorian Government commitment.
Osborne Park is just one of seven reserves in which the LED sports lighting has been provided.
The others include:
- Evans Reserve in Norlane,
- St Albans Reserve in Thomson,
- St Leonards Lake Reserve in St Leonards,
- Grinter Reserve in Newcomb,
- Winter Reserve in Belmont, and
- Burdoo Reserve in Grovedale.
Greater Geelong Mayor, Peter Murrihy;
Formed in 1876, North Geelong is one of our region's oldest clubs and has a long and proud history of catering for footballers, both men and, more recently women, throughout the northern suburbs.Throughout its history the Magpies have produced players who have gone on to play at the elite level, while the club has more recently been at the forefront of the game's development for women.
Now these improved lights will ensure the club can continue to cater for the interest in the game by significantly extending the hours in which players can train and play matches.
The new lighting will allow North Geelong to expand the availability of its playing and training facilities, which in turn would lead to increased inclusion and added participation.
Cr Eddy Kontelj, Brownbill Ward,
The improved lighting will now extend the hours in which the club can run activities, and this is bound to further promote social cohesion as it offers increased opportunities for people to meet, form relationships and become connected.In addition, the new lighting will make the facilities even safer to use due to the improved visibility. We consider this extremely important.
North Geelong aims to drive junior development and, naturally, with growth among juniors comes increased involvement of parents who will also benefit from the opportunity to meet together.
Member for Lara John Eren;
The Victorian Government's Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program is providing clubs a great opportunity to fast-track shovel-ready community sports infrastructure projects across Victoria.It's great to see 42 projects across the state that are benefiting from this program.
These projects are expected to create 600 local jobs and I'm so proud that North Geelong Football and Cricket Club is benefitting from this funding.
It's great that they will have lights that give them the opportunity to build participation in the northern suburbs.
