New lights for Wyong Reserve in Bentley

FOOTBALLERS, cricketers and young softballers will benefit when new lights are erected at Wyong Reserve in Bentley.

Players from three of the field’s co-tenants – Bentley Cricket Club, Royals Sports Club and football’s Canning South Perth Tigers – heard firsthand this month that the Federal Government would help pay for increased lighting at the oval.

Tigers committee member Brad Kent said that would be a boon for training sessions, given pockets of the field are currently plunged into darkness at night and the height of the floodlights can make marking a high ball a blinding challenge.

Being able to use the full oval is important because the Tigers run two senior teams and are hoping to develop a women’s side and field a colts team again in coming years.

Royals vice-president Damian Bannister said their junior softballers had to train in small areas directly under a light.

Bentley Cricket Club treasurer Darren Leng said the new lights would allow the cricketers to safely extend their training times, especially early in the season when daylight training hours were limited.

He also suggested refreshed facilities, including the lights, would help make all the tenant clubs more attractive to potential new players.

The City of Canning has not yet confirmed when works on the lighting upgrade will take place but Mayor Paul Ng welcomed the Federal Government’s $200,000 contribution.

Swan MHR Steve Irons said the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program had attracted far more applications than expected, so the Government had allocated an extra $30 million for projects in early 2019.

“It is a key priority of our government to promote the social and health benefits of physical activity and sport, and our investment to upgrade facilities and infrastructure will provide a real encouragement for those local residents not currently active,” he said.