Drainage system to help Glen Huon Oval

A subsoil drainage system will be installed at Glen Huon Reserve prior to the 2018 football season to reduce flooding at the oval during the winter months.

Dardanup Shire Council agreed last week to allocate $135,000 to the project to provide an interim measure for improving the oval surface by addressing the oval’s drainage problems until State Government funding support could be sourced for the full renovation of the oval.

Dardanup shire chief executive officer Mark Chester said he was “happy” with the decision.

“We’ve previously installed a subsoil drainage system at Wells Park in Dardanup, which has worked well.” he said. “I can’t say it will work all the time in this case because it all depends on the level of rain we get next winter.”

Mr Chester said the full redevelopment of the oval surface could take between three and five years and the subsoil drainage would continue to be used when the oval was fully redeveloped.

“Shire staff will undertake an evaluation of designs and costs for full redevelopment, so we can make an appropriate submission for State Government funding,” he said.

“We’ll do our best to get what we can, but for now it allows sporting teams to play on these great facilities,” he said.

Wet conditions resulted in two Eaton Boomers’ home games being relocated.

Eaton Boomers’ president Gary Bock said he was glad the council reached the decision with the understanding it was just the initial phase of the solution.

“I understand the budget constraints and I’m confident with what I’ve been told that this solution will resolve the issues we had last season,” he said.

Mr Bock said although the subsoil solution would allow the Boomers to hold games next season, he hoped funding for the full redevelopment could be sourced sooner rather than later.

South West Football League general manager John Vidos said any investment into addressing the oval’s drainage problem was “taking the right step forward”.

“Safe playing conditions are the priority of the club,” he said.

Council’s resolution won’t require the Bunbury and Districts Softball Association to relocate their 2017/18 Teeball season as the works are planned to occur during the eight-week break in their season.