Sunbury United soccer club is urging Hume council to fast track the upgrade of lights at its Langama Park home ground, saying it cannot wait until 2020-21 for the work to be done.
The council is planning to upgrade the lights in two stages – in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 – as part of its draft outdoor sports lighting upgrades plan.
But in a submission to the council, Sunbury United president Charlie Prognac said the club could not wait that long.
Mr Prognac said the lights on pitch one were nearly 40 years old.
“We feel that the lights are no longer adequate, based on our rising member base and subsequent higher demand for access to our soccer facility,” he said.
“The lights are not environmentally-friendly and are now beyond repair and it has been indicated to us that ongoing maintenance is very difficult.”
Langama Park is the only soccer facility in Sunbury, with the reserve also used by Sunbury Rugby League Club and Sunbury Cricket Club.
Pitch one is dedicated to soccer and accommodates matches for United’s senior men and women, men’s reserves, and 16 junior teams.
Mr Prognac said some of the club’s teams trained at similar times to the league club, leaving some teams training in “black spots” and raising concerns about junior player safety.
