Local sporting fields are set for upgrades due to the State Government’s announcement of more than $1.7 million towards six community infrastructure projects.
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Kempsey Shire Council has been successful in receiving $377,000 to go towards lighting upgrades at the Eden Street Playing Fields in Kempsey.
The Kempsey Saints Football Club train at the Eden Street Playing Fields and club president Matt Baker said the funding and upgrade will open up a lot more opportunities for the club.
“At this stage, our Friday night games are held at the Kemp Street Fields because of the poor lighting at Eden Street. It will allow us to bring the club together in one place, our home fields, and not have to spread out for games,” he said.
The Kempsey Saints hold a number of their home games at the Kemp Street fields due to the poor lighting at their own home ground.
“It would allow us to hold our home games at our home field.”
“And from our premier team through to the juniors, it would enable us to play competitive night games and also mid-week catch-up games if we needed to.”
The funding of $150,000 the club received will also be going towards the lighting upgrade.
General manager Craig Milburn said funding for lighting upgrades for local sport fields is something council has been working towards.
“It’s very exciting, council has applied for lighting upgrades for Eden Street Playing Fields, South West Rocks High Performance Sporting Complex and Jim Stirling Oval in Kempsey and we’ve been successful with all three of those,” he said.
“Council is beginning planning for the upgrades now.”
Currently, it is difficult for the Saints to train at the Eden Street fields because the current lighting makes it difficult to see properly.
“There’s only just enough light as it is. When we’re trying to train, the boys can’t see and it makes it really difficult,” Mr Baker said.
“If the upgrade goes through, it will allow us to have a better training facility and bring the club together.”
Council is now waiting for the paperwork for the grants before the upgrades begin.
“The time frame of the upgrades depend on the weather, the planning timeline and working around the sport season so we don’t interrupt their training or games. We hope to roll it out as quick as possible for the local sporting clubs,” Mr Milburn said.
Council is hoping the upgrades will be complete within 12-18 months.
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