By Mitchell Clarke
Cardinia Shire Council has been successful in obtaining two grants to upgrade two ovals at the Kooweerup Primary & Secondary Schools.
The works will include the re-shaping of the two sports fields at the Kooweerup primary and secondary school, including sub surface drainage and irrigation.
A grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria for $100,000.00 will be used to install sub-surface draining on the primary school sports field and the construction of a 2 bay cricket net.
The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) will also contribute $1.6 million, with $800,000.00 going towards the installation of sub-surface drainage on the secondary school oval, irrigation and lighting to both the oval and hockey pitch. The remainder of the money will go towards a separate project which will include the construction of a pavilion at a later date.
This project aligns with Cardinia councils’ plan to provide active and passive recreation facilities to meet the needs of residents by increasing opportunities for residents to participate in sport, recreation and leisure activities.
Councillor Ray Brown says Kooweerup is in need of more sporting facilities to support the growing demand in the area.
“Kooweerup community deserve another oval,” he said. “They have one football oval there and they have the largest population in the south of this shire.”
There are currently nine football teams and an AusKick program with over 50 participants using one oval. Four senior cricket teams and seven junior teams, as well as an over 60’s team share the field, leading to significant wear and tear of the facility.
“The recreation reserve committee do a fantastic job keeping that oval up to date and it costs them a lot of money trying to juggle all of these,” said Cr. Brown.
“Some training nights it looks like an ant hill with all the kids running around, with senior’s up one corner and kids at the other.”
“It’s not very good to have your team playing in one place, and the other part of your club playing in another.”
Kooweerup football club committee member Gary King said the club is greatly looking forward to the upgrade.
“We’ve needed a second ground for such a long time,” he said.
“It’s the best news we have heard in a long time. We are looking forward to it with great expectation.”
Kooweerup secondary college Principal Felix Patton said kids and families in Kooweerup will benefit from the upgrades.
“We are absolutely delighted with the upgrade, it’ll provide magnificent opportunity,” he said.
“Not only for the school, but it’ll also provide great opportunity for the wider Kooweerup community.”
