An all-abilities walking track at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and four new light towers at Collendina Reserve will be built thanks to two massive grants from the Pick my Project initiative.
Ocean Nature Reserve received $144,690 for an all-abilities walking track and Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras Junior Football Club received $200,000 to install new lighting at its reserve.
The nature reserve will have a 3km-long track that will be accessible for people of all abilities. The track will be constructed with materials that will blend in with the natural surrounds.
“We’re certainly very excited about it,” Friends of the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve activities coordinator Peter Sullivan told the Voice.
“Our main reason why we’re so excited about it is that we will get some people entering the reserve that haven’t otherwise been able to access it.
“People will be able to build an appreciation for what is a fantastic natural asset in the centre of Ocean Grove.”
Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras will use its $200,000 grant to install four new light towers at Collendina reserve. The club believes the current lighting system is inadequate for the hundreds of junior footballers who use the reserve, particularly for Auskick on Friday nights in winter.
The club currently has two outdated light towers and was forced to purchase a mobile light tower to illuminate the Bonnyvale Road side of the reserve.
Club president Shaun Stow was elated with the outcome.
“It will mean we can cater for our hundreds of junior members, who currently have to play under poor lighting,” he told the Voice.
“The four light towers will mean we can use the entire ground for our kids. We have so many kids here on Fridays in winter and the fact that we will be able to use the entire ground for them is just fantastic.”
