After years of planning, persistence and waterlogged winters, our home ground is finally getting the makeover it deserves.
For the non-believers: it’s happening. 🏉
Work has started on the reconstruction of our home ground at 58 Bridge Street, and it is a huge moment for the club.
Anyone who has trained or played at Bridge Street in winter knows the problem. The ground has no proper drainage, so it holds water, and too many weeks of the season have been lost to closures. A report on the ground back in 2014 highlighted the problems and the possible solutions, and the club has been working towards this ever since.
A lot of work behind the scenes
This did not happen overnight. Over many years, our volunteers have put in the hard yards to make the case for Bridge Street, influence the people who make funding decisions and plan carefully for the day the bulldozers would arrive. That patient work has paid off.
The project has been made possible by funding from the Victorian Government, through its Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, and from Nillumbik Shire Council, with Eltham Rugby contributing as well. We are very grateful to both for backing our community.
So what is being built?
- a new, level playing surface with a proper drainage system
- a modern irrigation system
- a sand-based profile, so the ground drains and recovers
- new TifTuf couch turf, a hybrid grass known for staying greener through winter and bouncing back from heavy use
- goal post sleeves
- new coaches’ boxes
- drinking fountains for players and spectators
What does it mean for training?
While the ground is being rebuilt, Bridge Street is closed, which means we need somewhere else to train over summer. We are working with council on options for our pre-season and will share the details as soon as they are locked in. Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility, because a short-term squeeze is a small price for a ground that will serve the club for decades.
A huge thank you to Tim Adams, who has driven this project for years, and to every volunteer, player and family who has backed it along the way. Many hands make light work, and this is exactly what that looks like.
Watch this space. We will share photos as the ground takes shape. 🖤💛
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