Irrigation system commissioned

Mr La Posta made a special visit to West Wyalong to personally inspect and commission the new $92,000 system, which was funded by the AFL and State Government with the additional assistance of Bland Shire Council.

Mr La Posta said the AFL was delighted to be involved in the project and embraced the opportunity to assist not only their own code by other sports and users of the Recreation Ground such as schools, cricket and athletics.

“It fills us with an enormous amount of pride,” he said.

Mr La Posta praised the commitment of Council to the Recreation Ground and made special mention of Wayne Broad, who helped drive the project from the outset.

“The State Government did make us jump through quite a few hurdles,” he said.

However, as a pleasantly surprised Mr La Posta cast his eye over the picturesque Recreation Ground facilities he was left in no doubt the efforts of all were well worth it.

“The next step, let’s start exploring opportunities for lights,” he said.

With financial support from the AFL, a functional lighting system at the Recreation Ground would open up the code to a whole new local audience as well as allowing local users to train effectively at night.

President of the West Wyalong-Girral Australian Rules Football and Netball Club, Paul Flagg was also excited about the prospect of lights in the future.

Mr Flagg thanked the aFL, State Government and Council for their commitment to the irrigation project, which will ensure the ground can receive comprehensive coverage of water throughout the year while also saving water and power.

He made special mention of former Bland Shire Mayor, Tony Lord whose negotiations with the State Government were critical in getting the project off the ground.

Mr Broad said the installation of two giant water tanks, which hold three days supply, would ensure the Recreation Ground had its own supply of water.

Previously the Recreation Ground was irrigated from Council’s Boundary Street dam 1.26 kilometres away and was at the end of the line of a network which includes most of West Wyalong’s parks and gardens.

As a result, Mr Broad explained that there was insufficient pressure to effectively water the oval – particularly during summer – and Council staff were forced to spend hours each week hand watering sections of the ground the sprinklers would not reach.

The water is now pumped from a new purpose built stand alone pumping station on site and spreads up to an incredible seven metres further from each sprinkler head.

Mr Broad said the system will save half a megalitre of water a week.
It even includes a weather station that shuts the system down in the event of rain or excess wind.