By Charlene Gatt
DROUGHT-PROOF grounds and new teams to accommodate the West’s growing population are key items on the Western Region Football League’s State Budget wish list.
WRFL chief executive John Batty told Star that while Division One teams get some watering from councils, seconds ground –- such as Hoppers Crossing – have caused the league problems in the past.
He said that more environmentally sustainable sporting grounds are needed to weather the state’s on-going drought.
“The biggest issue facing football is facilities, especially drought-proof grounds. Water and the availability of water are going to be a problem for some time,” Mr Batty said.
“We can’t get confused and expect to play on MCG or Telstra Dome-style services because that’s just not going to happen.
“At the moment there’s no ground that you would call unsafe, but certainly they could do with a lot more water than they get.”
Mr Batty would also like to see a new senior team in Point Cook, but has been told that Wyndham City Council will not be putting grounds there for the next two years.
“(With) corridors such as Point Cook and Tarneit – they’re all growing so quickly, the facilities are not yet being supplied to keep up with the population increase.”
Meanwhile, the league is keen to see more grounds fitted with floodlights to facilitate night games. In round one this year, St Albans Football Club used its new lights to host a night match against Albion.
