The Basin Football Club president Brett Phillips, La Trobe MP Jason Wood and The Basin Cricket Club president Greg Best inspect the site of $466,000 renovations at Batterham Reserve.By Paul Pickering
WITH the announcement of lighting upgrades to both ovals at Batterham Reserve, things have just got a whole lot brighter for footballers and cricketers in The Basin,
On Tuesday, 13 March, La Trobe MP Jason Wood announced the Federal Government’s $94,000 pledge to The Basin’s football and cricket clubs, lending momentum to comprehensive renovations at the venue.
The lighting upgrade is part of a $466,000 project which has already seen significant improvements made to Batterham Reserve’s clubrooms.
Renovations completed to date include redesigned changerooms and storage areas, improved indoor and outdoor lighting, the installations of two 10,000 litre water tanks and a new heating and cooling system for the bar and social area.
The Basin Football Club president Brett Phillips is excited about the prospect of his teams being able to use the expanses of both grounds for training.
“We used to have to huddle under the light in the forward pocket,” Mr Phillips laughed.
For The Basin Cricket Club president Greg Best, the announcement was the culmination of a protracted funding drive that included substantial sums drawn from the clubs’ own pockets.
Mr Wood said the campaign was an example of how sporting clubs could take advantage of the government’s Regional Partnerships Program, which provided support for funding initiatives championed by local government and community groups.
“Once I told them about the program, they just jumped at it,” Mr Wood said.
“They were given an opportunity and they made the most of it.”
Mr Wood challenged other sporting clubs and associations within his electorate to be similarly proactive by applying for Regional Partnerships funding.
More information on the program is available at www.regionalpartnerships.gov.au.
