WETLANDS to be created in Neerim South will be used to water the town’s memorial oval in summer months to help lower the risk of injury for those using the facility.
Pictured: premier Denis Napthine, Narracan MP Gary Blackwood, Baw Baw councillors and key players in the planning of the wetlands at the Neerim South Recreation Reserve on Friday. Photo by author.
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Development of the wetlands will begin soon after the state government pledged over half a million dollars to the project on Friday.
Neerim South Wetland Working Group chair and former recreation reserve committee president Mike Haughton said planning began after safety issues for oval users arose after the drought last decade.
“It’s very fitting that we hold this [funding announcement] at the reserve – it was from here… that we faced this major problem of safety for the players,” Mr Haughton said at Friday’s announcement.
“The consequence of the drought on the ground was it caused players injury.”
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Other attempts soften the hard ground were trialled but none were viable long-term solutions.
“Using town water was not feasible… and we were looking into bore water but the water was not suitable.”
Water from the swimming pool was also used.
Click here to read more about the project.
