At first cut, Cowes new sports oval looks superb

HUNDREDS of interested locals and visitors have been able to keep a daily eye on progress with the $300,000 drainage upgrade and resurfacing project at the Cowes Recreation Reserve Oval.

Last Thursday, January 11, after ideal growing conditions in recent months, after the new drainage and resurfacing work started in October last year, the new grass was long enough, and thick enough to receive its first cut with the mower.

“It’s been going really well. The contractors say they want to leave it as long as possible before the start of the season which probably means we won’t get on it until the week before our first match on Easter Saturday,” said Phillip Island Football Club President Chris Ross.

“I’ve noticed in the last week or so that there has been a noticeable thickening up in the grass. You could see the new drainage lines before that but you’ve got to look closely to see them now.

“They always said it would go right up to the start of the season, but the way it’s been going, maybe we can get on it a bit earlier.”

Chris Ross said the club was fortunate to be able to train on an excellent surface at Newhaven College and would do so for most of the pre-season.

“We have a new practice matches there and while it’s not ideal getting a barbecue and all the supplies over there for a practice match, that’s just the way it is. It will be well worth it in the long run.”

One of Phillip Island’s practice matches will be against Gippsland League finalists Moe who will be looking to go deep into the season in 2024 although they will have to do so without Western Bulldogs’ leading goal-kicker Billy Gowers who has departed the scene after just one year.

Phillip Island will host Warragul Industrials on Easter Saturday, March 30 as one of only two feature matches of the holiday weekend, the other being 2023 premiers Inverloch-Kongwak who will host Cora Lynn for their flag raising.

Council’s $300,000 funding

Bass Coast Shire Council is funding the full cost of the Cowes resurfacing work having appointed Evergreen Turf Group Pty Ltd last year to carry out the rejuvenation works at Cowes Recreation Reserve.

The project includes:

* The drainage upgrade, resurfacing and warm season grass conversion at Cowes Recreation Reserve Oval will bring the performance of this deteriorated oval to a level conducive to playing local level football and cricket. This will achieve the best outcome for the long-term performance of the oval.

* This project represents another investment in sport and recreation facilities in Cowes and will significantly improve the condition of the recreation oval.

* Reshaping, cultivating, compaction and earthworks to allow better rainfall runoff from oval surface.

* Reinstatement of the existing irrigation including renewal of the subsurface drainage.

* Supply and installation of concrete synthetic cricket pitch.

* Turf sprigging works including turf maintenance works.

* The recreation oval closed to the public during the construction and turf maintenance period (although it has been a frustration to see some people breaking through the fence to have a kick of the football or walk the dog when the work is clearly still in progress).

* Appropriate traffic and pedestrian control measures have been implemented onsite. It is a construction zone.