Lighting up winter sports in Drouin and Trafalgar

Published on 09 July 2021

Winter sports have been illuminated in Drouin and Trafalgar thanks to three significant lighting upgrades delivered by Baw Baw Shire Council.

New lights have been installed at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve’s second soccer pitch, Bellbird Park Oval and Bellbird Park’s junior and senior soccer pitches, ensuring soccer players, junior footballers, parents, spectators, and volunteers can enjoy their sport with maximum visibility.

Completed in 2020, the upgrades were officially opened on Thursday in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Danny Goss and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing MP switched on the new lights at Bellbird Park Oval for Drouin Junior Football Club and Gippsland Umpire Association’s training last night.

The new lights at Bellbird Park Oval have been measured at an average of 160Lux, exceeding AFL standard and future proofing the lights for several years.

Council worked with the Drouin Junior Football Club, the Bellbird Park Committee of Management, and the Gippsland Umpires Association to deliver the $206,000 project, with $80,000 contributed by Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Drouin Dragons Soccer Club is now training under lights installed at both its junior and senior pitches at Bellbird Park and Trafalgar Victory Soccer Club is benefitting from the final two light towers installed on the second pitch at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve.

The $500,000 project was jointly funded by Baw Baw Shire Council and Sport and Recreation Victoria through the World Game Facilities Fund.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss:

“Better visibility means a safer ground for players and a better experience for the parents, spectators and volunteers on the sidelines.

“The lighting will allow for more participation at training and give clubs greater capacity to host evening training sessions or games, better serving our growing community.” 

Bellbird Park Committee of Management President Chris Behrendorff, Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing MP, Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Cr Danny Goss, and Bellbird Park Committee of Management Secretary Michael Caddy celebrate the opening of the Bellbird Park Oval Lighting Upgrade.