Colac and District cricket fans can look forward to enjoying even longer sessions out on Colac’s Lake Oval thanks to the recently completed $90,000 plus oval redevelopment featuring a new drought tolerant grass surface, fully automated irrigation system and drainage.
Representing Sport Minister, James Merlino, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP was at the Colac Cricket Club’s President’s XI cricket match to officially open the new Oval.
“Victorians love their sport and local clubs like the Colac Cricket Club play a vital role in ensuring communities are strong, happy, healthy and active,” Ms Tierney said.
“This much loved club has been the lifeblood of this community for over 150 years. The oval redevelopments will ensure that the club can continue to play and bring people together at the oval well into the future, whatever the weather brings.
“It’s not just the Cricket Club that benefits, the Colac and District Football Umpires Association will be able to boost their ranks thanks to the greater opportunities provided by the new ground redevelopment.
“The great advantage of the warm season grasses is that they require less watering and are more durable, allowing clubs to extend training times and areas of use on their ovals.
“We don’t want any Victorians to miss out on the benefits of an active lifestyle which is why we are committed to improving the quality and accessibility of sporting facilities across the state,” Ms Tierney said.
The Victorian Government provided $60,000 for the project which went towards re-levelling and shaping of the ground, installation of an automatic irrigation system, water tanks, as well as the planting of with warm season grasses. The funding came from the Drought Relief for Community Sport and Recreation Program.
“By investing in local community assets such as these, we are making a difference now and into the future for our sports clubs and the local community,” Ms Tierney said.
Ms Tierney congratulated the Colac Otway Shire for its over $26,000 contribution, as well as the Colac and District Cricket Association for their $5,000, Colac and District Football Umpires for $2000, and Colac Cricket Club for their $4100 of in-kind donations.
This is a fantastic effort and is a great example of what can be achieved when the Victorian Government, clubs, local councils, and communities work together,” Ms Tierney said.
