Jennifer Pittorino
New competition lighting at McIvor Reserve is now open for the Maribyrnong community and Yarraville soccer groups.
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne joined representatives from home club Yarraville Glory to flick the switch and officially launch their new 200 lux LED pitch lights, costing more than $176,000 from the World Game Facilities Fund.
Ms Horne said the new lights are a game-changer that will provide more time on the park for the local community to play the sport they love.
“With football as popular as ever, we’re ensuring local clubs like Yarraville Glory have a place to grow and communities can come together,” she said.
With the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup rapidly approaching, clubs like Glory have seen a growth in female participation and more demand for pitch time.
The bright new lighting means more opportunity for local teams to ramp up their training and games, as well as opening up the venue to more community use including casual play, and local events.
McIvor Reserve currently services more than a dozen sporting clubs and groups including Yarraville-Footscray Bowling Club, Footscray Baseball Club, Footscray Hockey Club, Yarraville Glory Football Club, Yarraville Auskick, Yarraville Seddon Eagles Football Club, Footscray United Cricket Club, Sunshine Druids Cricket Club, Sunshine YCW Cricket Club, Kingsville Cricket Club, St Andrews Cricket Club, Seddon Cricket Club
and Yarraville Cricket Club.
Council conducted meetings with tenant clubs and user groups which identified a range of improvements to be made when it comes to the current sporting facilities at McIvor Reserve.
Some being the quality of the open sports field, the need for competition-standard lighting which has now been awarded, access to toilets especially at the western end of the Reserve, increased parking, storage and seating and upgrades to existing pavilions and more, all of which are highlighted in the Master Plan.
