The lights have been upgraded at the HR Uren Recreation Reserve in Thomastown in hopes that it will help boost local soccer participation rates.
The works began in February, with the old lights demolished and replaced with four 25-metre-high light poles containing 100 lux lights.
The old lights utilised obsolete metal halide technology, were expensive to maintain and had fallen below the minimum standard required for night matches.
The new lights were funded through a $300,000 grant from sport and recreation Victoria.
Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd joined Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny on July 18 to acknowledge the project’s completion.
Lloyd said the council was working with the state government to ensure residents had the facilities they needed to take part in sporting activities.
“Providing quality community sporting facilities is an important part of lifting participation rates and encouraging people to live active, healthy lifestyles,” he said.
“We are delighted to have partnered with sport and recreation Victoria to install these lights so people have the chance to play the sport they love at a time that’s convenient for them.”
Lalor United uses the ground.
Club liaison officer Emil Atanasov said the upgraded lighting had given the club greater flexibility with its scheduling of matches and training.
He said the new lights would help to attract and retain players whose participation was dependent on being able to plan around other commitments.
“A lot of people, particularly masters [45 years and older] and female players, want to play at night due to work and family commitments and these lights will allow that,” he said.
