New lights mean more night games at Sports Precinct

Back

Sports precinct lights

Fraser Coast OzTag players can now train and play at night on their own fields with the installation of new lighting at the Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct.

Cr Jade Wellings said $450,000 had been spent on the lighting works and a further $464,000 would be spent on field upgrades in coming months with the support of a $914,000 Works for Queensland grant from the State Government.

“We embarked on this project because the Fraser Coast region had a significant shortfall of sporting fields, and it’s been heartening to see how thousands of local netball, soccer and OzTag players and their families have embraced the new facilities,” she said.

“With an extra 50,000 people expected to call the Fraser Coast home over the next 20 to 30 years, we need to provide sport and entertainment facilities that meet the current demand and cater for future growth.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a lot of major events have been cancelled, but community sport has returned, and interest in OzTag is growing on the Fraser Coast with more and more players signing up.

“While the lights are now operational and Hervey Bay OzTag have had their first games under lights on these fields, there are still some more commissioning works that will happen over the next few weeks, including adding a new lighting control system.”

Cr Wellings said the new lighting at two of the fields would be followed by three field upgrades that would involve site preparation, turf, top soil, drainage and irrigation works, with plans underway to build a new community clubhouse as well next year.

“This new work will represent a major capital improvement to the Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct,” she said.

“We are grateful to be receiving $1.1 million in COVID Works for Queensland funding from the State Government for the new clubhouse and expect to call for tenders in about two months with construction to start in early 2021.

“Council will also soon begin engaging with the community on the vision and priorities for stage two of the Sports and Recreation Precinct.

“The completion of stage one was a significant milestone, but it’s also the first step in a long journey. This precinct will grow as our community grows.”