New lights to be turned on at Epsom Huntly Rec Reserve

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke and the Hon Jacinta Allan will officially turn on the new $257,000 training lights for the netball courts and Pitch 4 at the Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve at 6pm Wednesday September 4.

 This new lighting is the last of the lighting of all playing facilities at the reserve.

Active and Healthy Lifestyles Acting Manager Bridget Maplestone said the new lighting has been an important collaborative project between the City, the Victorian Government, Epsom Football Club and the Bendigo Northern Flames Junior Netball Club.

“Epsom Huntly is an important regional facility that, last year, had bookings for a staggering 356 days of the year across its soccer pitches, football ovals, netball courts and pavilions,” Ms Maplestone said.

“The installation of the new Pitch 4 training lights is great news because it will allow for additional training sessions to be scheduled throughout winter to cater for the Epsom Football Club’s growing membership.

“While the new netball court lighting,will help the Bendigo Northern Flames Junior Netball Club to continue to grow their club. 

“The Bendigo Northern Flames only formed in August 2014 and now have 120 members.  The new lights will help the club to develop an open team who will be able to train under the lights later into the evening.

“The court and pitch lights will also allow for match play and this will provide opportunities for the reserve to cater for more one-off events such as the annual Koori Football and Netball Carnival which could only be held partially at the site in 2015 due to the lack of netball courts and lighting.”

The $257,000 project has been funded by City of Greater Bendigo ($125,000), Sport and Recreation Victoria Community Sports Fund ($60,000), Sport and Recreation Victoria World Game Facilities Fund ($60,000), Epsom Football Club ($10,000) and Bendigo Northern Flames Junior Netball Club ($2,000).