Romsey sporting clubs are calling for urgent upgrades to lighting, playing surface, drainage and parking at Oval 2 to match the town’s growth.
Local soccer and junior football clubs say they have been forced to cap players in recent years due to strain on the limited playing grounds.
Macedon Rangers Soccer Club president Matt Bender said the requested upgrades would allow all-weather and evenings use of Oval 2.
“It would take the pressure off the oval across the road,” he said.
“We’re getting to a point at the soccer club where we’re hitting our capacity because we can’t actually offer any further real estate or ground space. We’ve had to put a limit on what we can achieve because we can’t support the growth.
“It’s disappointing for the town and area because we should be able to keep growing and be competitive.”
The soccer club fielded its first women’s team this year, alongside its U8-U16, seniors and Miniroos. However, Mr Bender said limited facilities has created challenges for retaining senior players.
Romsey Oval 2, located on the western side of the Romsey Park Sports Precinct, is one of the few ovals in the Macedon Ranges without any fixed lighting. The soccer club fundraised for two portable wind-up light towers to light the grounds in the evening, however, they only light a quarter of the ground and are arduous to set up and pack away.
The playing surface also becomes waterlogged in areas after moderate rain, due to inadequate drainage.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has designed and costed an upgrade project estimated at $2.8 million. The works would include oval expansion to accommodate three new soccer pitches, drainage and irrigation upgrades, fencing, car parking, player shelters, and new 100 lux LED lighting.
Oval 2 is also home to Romsey Junior Football Netball Club, Romsey Cricket Club, Lancefield Romsey Little Athletics Centre and other user groups, which have experienced their own challenges.
Romsey Junior Football Netball Club’s Mick McCarthy said 230 junior footballers needed to use the oval for 15 training sessions each week within daylight hours due to poor lighting.
“At the moment they’re crammed with three teams on one oval. It makes training very restricted,” he said.
“In the winter months when it’s dark by 4.30pm, everyone is training in the dark. One set of lights is really not enough for the user groups. We also struggle with parking, particularly when there is more than one game happening on a weekend.
“There are always budget constraints, and we understand that, but when you look around at other things that are happening, like recent developments in Gisborne and Kyneton, we feel like it’s our turn.”
Romsey Cricket Club president James Collins said fixed lighting would benefit user groups all year round and open up possibilities for expansion and evening games.
LABOR PLEDGE
Last Thursday, Labor candidate for Macedon Annette Death pledged $620,000 towards installation of lighting if a Labor government was re-elected.
While a pledge for the lighting was welcomed, Mr Bender said the user groups were eager to see the full upgrade, ready for play by 2028.
“We’re grateful for this and any funding commitments towards the $2.8 million estimated cost, but we’ll continue looking at all other opportunities and pushing for the full amount,” he said.
“The lighting on its own is essential, but it makes logistical and financial sense to have the other complementary improvements to the playing surface, drainage and car parking completed together.”