A suite of transformative projects at the Old Aerodrome Ovals is to set to increase participation across several sports.
The projects – all identified as part of the Old Aerodrome Oval Complex Masterplan – will open the door for more people to play football (soccer), cricket and compete in BMX, while also illustrating how these masterplans can achieve positive outcomes for the community.
A $722,200 lighting upgrade is set to take local soccer competitions to a new level in 2024, according to Football Federation Sunraysia (FFS) General Manager Susan Watts.
The upgrade, which has secured new lighting towers for three soccer pitches at the complex, is being completed thanks to joint funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), FFS and Mildura Rural City Council.
"From a competitive point of view, it certainly means more night competition fixtures, and we're also anticipating that will create opportunities for more social activities," Ms Watts said.
"It's going to be amazing for our sport once completed and the lights will create an amazing atmosphere.
"We predominantly play our competitive season fixtures on Sundays, and this upgrade will provide more flexibility to play into the evening, giving us and a chance to grow our competition numbers."
The upgrade is set to open up new possibilities, allowing games after dark in the winter and then out of the heat in the summer.
Ms Watts said the new lighting would also enable FFS to attract more female participation by providing more social opportunities for female players.
"During the COVID pandemic we found that we lost a number of our older female players, and it's been hard to get them back," she said.
"We would like to provide female only events, come and try sessions, junior night games and events aimed at encouraging multicultural communities to participate.
"We would also like to attract more inter-regional competition and regional junior tournaments.
"We currently run an Over 35s social competition, and we're looking to expand that into an Over 45s category as well as Walking Football sessions."
Other projects nearing completion, or due to get underway, include new lights, an electronic scoreboard and new cricket training nets for the Mildura West Cricket Club.
The $260,000 suite of upgrades has been made possible thanks to joint funding from The Victorian Government, the Mildura West Cricket Club and Council.
The addition of competition lighting will enable West to host more night games and will be used for the first time on Thursday 14 December for a Women's Twenty/20 game, before the Mildura West's T20 Men's team get their first chance to play under lights in February 2024.
Construction of a six-lane cricket training facility is also due to commence in January 2024.
Meanwhile, a new toilet block at the Mildura BMX Club is also under construction, with plans underway for a new starting gate and track lighting.
Councillor for Community Health, Wellbeing and Recreation Troy Bailey said these infrastructure projects would prove a win for participants.
"Our Recreation team and Old Aerodrome Oval user groups have worked hard to identify these opportunities and secure the funding required to make these projects a reality," he said.
"The benefits are going to be numerous for our community, increasing participation rates and opening the door for different types of competitions at a local and potentially state and national level."
