The Nar Nar Goon football ground partially under water during last February’s floods. The ground recovered to host the 2011 EDFL grand final but is still in desperate need of major drainage work, according to the recreation reserve committee of management. 59953
By Melissa Meehan
CORA Lynn’s sports oval will be a field of dreams once $211,161 worth of drainage works are complete.
But the decision to leap-frog other grounds that are also in dire need of rehabilitation works has left some recreation reserve committees scratching their heads.
At the last meeting of the year, Cardinia councillors supported a motion that a tender by Hendriksen Contractors be accepted.
Works will involve the installation of subsoil drainage systems, regrading and grassing of the oval and associated works.
This follows a major project, partly funded by the council, to install lights in early 2011 and funding for an electronic scoreboard in last year’s Cardinia shire community grants allocation.
General manager Michael Ellis said that, in July 2011, the council was approached by the Cora Lynn Football Club to discuss the condition of the oval.
The club said that, due to the wet winter, the oval had deteriorated to an unacceptable state to train and play football on.
But Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve Committee of Management secretary Adrian Scott questioned why his ground had been overlooked for a drainage upgrade.
In a letter to the council, Mr Scott said explained that in 2008 the Nar Nar Goon Football Club applied for funding through the council to upgrade the sub-surface drainage on the main oval.
“It was obvious that the ground was in urgent need of additional drainage and the original scheme was approximately 30 years old,” he said.
“At this time I was then informed by a council officer that the Nar Nar Goon, Bunyip and Catani grounds had been earmarked for drainage and surface upgrades in the next couple of years.
“The club was successful with the grant application but we let it lapse to allow the council to carry out the upgrade at their expense.”
Mr Scott said he was surprised to hear that the council had fast-tracked the works at Cora Lynn.
“We are aware Cora Lynn experienced significant problems during the 2011 season, but what happened to Nar Nar Goon and Bunyip?” he asked in the letter.
“While we do not begrudge the hard work of volunteers associated with Cora Lynn, the usage demand placed on Cora Lynn as compared to Nar Nar Goon and Bunyip is miles apart. We have serious concerns with the process which has taken place to allow Cora Lynn to jump the others to have their drainage scheme upgraded.”
Cardinia Recreation and Facilities team leader Heather Callahan said the council had fast-tracked works at Cora Lynn due to external funding that the football club was able to source through the DSE, user groups at the reserve and the State Government.
“The installation of drainage and irrigation on the main oval at Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve remains a high priority for council,” she said.
“The timing, pending budget approval, for drainage and irrigation works at Nar Nar Goon has not changed since council recently approved drainage works to be undertaken at Cora Lynn.”
