By CASEY NEILL
SANDOWN Cobras could soon be playing matches under lights.
But one City of Greater Dandenong councillor fears a “miniature Wembley in the back residential streets of Springvale North” could result.
The council last Monday approved plans for a new lighting system at the football club’s home ground, Edinburgh Reserve.
Plans to upgrade the pavilion at the Springvale ground couldn’t go ahead because grant funding didn’t eventuate, so the council reallocated its $100,000 contribution to the lights project, alongside $10,000 from the club.
But Cr Peter Brown expressed “serious reservations” about whether residents had been adequately consulted.
“If you lived in a quiet street, would you welcome the street becoming emblazoned with light after hours to facilitate visitors to night football?” he said.
Cr Brown said the existing building was rundown and the existing lighting “next to useless”, but amenity issues were under threat.
“We must ensure that an acceptable balance is maintained between the interests of the club and the residents,” he said.
Sandown Cobras general manager Brett Phillips said the light system would be switched on within months.
“The current lights were put up in 1990 but don’t light up the whole ground, so we’re restricted as to where we can train,” he said.
Mr Phillips said the new lights could run at night-match standard, but the club had made no plans to play at night.
“It has plenty of appeal to play some feature night matches, but we wouldn’t turn all our home games into night matches,” he said.
He said the club loved being nestled in closely to the surrounding neighbourhood.
“Most people come past walking their dog asking when we’ll be playing on the weekend. They come along to watch us,” he said.
“I can’t see any negative impact.”
Mr Phillips hopes funding for the pavilion refurbishment will come from the council in the next financial year.
“All the plans are drawn up, and costed,” he said.
“The councillors need to see where it fits into all the projects they need to tick off.”
He said the social rooms were built in 1961 and were also used as changerooms until new player facilities arrived in 1984.
“It’d be fair to say they’ve had a fair bit of wear and tear,” Mr Phillips said.
“We have 80 football players, plus netballers, plus an all-abilities team for kids with an intellectual disability, and we’re trying to exist in a facility we’ve clearly outgrown.
“We want to make Edinburgh Reserve a sporting/community hub, so that outside groups can use the facility during the week.”
