A community ceremony was held last night to officially turn on the new lights at the Cudgewa Football and Netball Club. The much-needed lighting upgrade was made possible by Towong Shire Council securing $250,000 in funding from the Victorian Government’s Country Football and Netball Program as well as funding from the Cudgewa Football Netball Club and Council.
Towong Shire Council Mayor, Cr Peter Tolsher, said the new lighting will deliver a number of benefits for the Cudgewa community.
“Similarly to the old lights at Rowen Park in Tallangatta and at the Tallandoon Tennis Courts before they were replaced, the lights at the Cudgewa Recreation Reserve were well past their use by date. Locals have all heard the famous stories of coaches sending junior players off for laps only to have fewer of them return because it was too easy to hide in the dark pockets on the ground,” Mayor Tolsher said.
The project has delivered four 28-metre light poles that will deliver 100 lux lighting. The new infrastructure now in place has the capacity to upgrade to 200 lux if required in the future. Upgrading the lighting at the Reserve was the highest priority project identified in the Cudgewa Recreation Reserve Master Plan, developed in 2022.
“Importantly, this upgrade will deliver benefits beyond sport. With the Cudgewa Recreation Reserve designated as a bushfire Place of Last Resort, these new lights will also enhance emergency preparedness and response, providing added safety and reassurance for the community.
“For a community that all too well understands bushfire threat, this long overdue upgrade will provide a real boost. As the home ground of the Cudgewa Football Netball Club, the recreation reserve plays a vital role in bringing people together. It provides opportunities not just for organised sport, but for active recreation, connection, and social interaction—things that are essential in a small community like Cudgewa,” Mayor Tolsher said.
In addition to thanking the Victorian Government for the funding that allowed this upgrade to go ahead, Council would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Mr John Carkeek and Mr Damon Ferguson. Club coach and stalwart John Carkeek kept the project on track despite trying weather conditions and a few other challenges along the way as did Damon Ferguson from Positive Electrical Services who ensured everything was ready for the official lighting switch on tonight.
The Cudgewa Lighting Project aligns with several initiatives and objectives in Towong Shire’s Council Plan 2025-2029 specifically; enhancing our community’s access to safe, modern recreation facilities and strengthening the vibrancy of our smaller townships.
The upgrade will:
- Meet AFL-standard training requirements, ensuring the oval can be used safely and effectively by all teams.
- Reduce running costs with modern LED lighting that is more energy-efficient and lowers long-term expenses.
- Increase usable training space through brighter and more consistent lighting that allows the entire oval to be used.
- Supports higher participation by enabling more players to train at the same time and encouraging greater community involvement.
