Newcomb Power Football Netball Club will have the capacity to host senior night football matches and offer evening programming for events following the installation of high-quality floodlighting at Grinter Reserve.

The Coppards Road venue is one of seven reserves across the City of Greater Geelong to benefit from a share of $2.5 million in sports lighting grants through the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.

The City of Greater Geelong catered in its 2020-2021 Budget for a 10 percent commitment toward the successful projects.

Along with Grinter Reserve the following venues have been enhanced with new floodlighting:

• St Albans Recreation Reserve in Thomson
• Osborne Park in North Geelong
• Evans Reserve in Norlane
• St Leonards Lake Reserve in St Leonards
• Winter Reserve in Belmont and
• Burdoo Reserve in Grovedale.

Greater Geelong Mayor Peter Murrihy:

The Victorian Government’s commitment to Grinter Reserve is a real shot in the arm for sport in the Newcomb and Whittington areas allowing the Power to explore playing night games moving forward.

The improved lighting follows on the back of a Council-funded $875 000 redevelopment of the changerooms along with the great news that the ground will host the Bellarine Football Netball League grand final for the first time in 2022.

Councillor Trent Sullivan:

The Grinter Reserve lighting upgrade will contribute to making the club one of choice for footballers in the region.

The updated facilities and lighting at Grinter Reserve will give Newcomb Power the capacity to compete with neigbouring clubs in attracting quality players to the club.

There’s no question that high-quality facilities and floodlighting comparable to other grounds around the region make it easier to attract and keep players and people.

The Power has also been proactive in catering for an all-abilities program and the new lighting will create further opportunities in building the club in that space.

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens also applauded the addition of the lights.

These new lights provide grass roots clubs like Newcomb Power with the facilities to train and potentially play night games in the future.

Newcomb Power will now have greater capacity to support more women’s and girl’s teams and offer first-rate facilities to attract more local players.