$120k added to budget for Targoora Park lighting

$LIGHT \\'EM UP: Council has approved its $120,000 contribution to the Targoora Park Baseball and Softball field lighting project that will benefit more than 400 members at the club. Pictured are Lily Britton (front), Mayor Irene Grant, Leah Dinsdale, Candice Jones, Donna Smedley, and Makayla Pool. PHOTO: Shane Douthie$

LIGHT 'EM UP: Council has approved its $120,000 contribution to the Targoora Park Baseball and Softball field lighting project that will benefit more than 400 members at the club. Pictured are Lily Britton (front), Mayor Irene Grant, Leah Dinsdale, Candice Jones, Donna Smedley, and Makayla Pool. PHOTO: Shane Douthie

Council to contribute $120k to add to $350k state government grant for lights

Steve Kelly

July 30, 2025 • 02:00

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Rural City of Wangaratta Council has approved an extra $120,000 to be spent in the 2025-26 budget to cover funding for new lighting at Targoora Park, the home of the Wangaratta Rangers Baseball and Softball Club.

The budget amendment comes after the Victorian government announced $352,500 for the new lighting following council's successful application under round two of the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

As a condition to secure the state funding, council is required to contribute the remaining $120,000 to fully fund the project.

The investment consisting of a 500 lux lighting upgrade will enable the installation of lighting at diamond one, improving safety, increasing training and competition capacity, and supporting the long-term development of baseball and softball in the region.

The project aligns with council’s strategic commitment to enhancing local sporting infrastructure and fostering inclusive participation in community sport.

During the budget process, council officers chose not to include this project (and other matched-funding projects) due to the uncertainty of grant outcomes.

The intent was to seek council funding via future savings if the grant application was successful.

At the July council meeting last week, Wangaratta resident Jenny Hart queried whether members of the public impacted by light were informed of the new lighting.

"I believe residents on Wenhams Lane received a letter - our property and other properties that get direct light pollution from these light towers have never received any form of notification to enable us to participate in the process about the installation of these light towers, for the existing ones or for these proposed ones," she said.

"I object to the variation on that basis and it also has direct impact to the future lots on C86 (230-lot subdivision) that you just approved.

"They will be directly impacted by the light pollution and this was raised as an issue to be considered in the planning and engineering report."

Council director community and infrastructure Marcus Goonan said the project hasn't had its design finalised yet as council has only just received the funding.

"There will certainly be further consultation and they (the lighting installation) will follow Australian standards," he said.

Cr Harry Bussell noted that the lighting improvement will be really positive on people's health to be able to exercise and the lights will enable this given the limited number of daylight hours.