PEDRINA Park soccer field is getting a drainage upgrade that will rid the arena of the problems that have plagued the facilities since the complex was first built.

For far too long the facility became waterlogged during the winter months due to poor drainage of the playing field and the surrounds which caused the Hamilton Soccer Club to play in sub-standard facility for home games.

Southern Grampians Shire Council has appointed Sportsfields Australia to implement a $135,000 drainage program to mitigate water ponding issues on the soccer field.

Work will be undertaken this summer to ensure the drainage is installed before junior and senior soccer teams take to the field in winter, with the project expected to be finished in May.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Councillor David Robertson said council understood it was important to rectify the water drainage problem at Pedrina Park soccer field as a priority.

“Soccer is one of the number one team sports played in Australia,” said Cr Robertson.

“Over the past decade, soccer’s popularity has significantly increased, and Council wants to ensure that this soccer field meets the needs of our local players, especially the juniors.”

Cr Robertson said more than $3.5 million had gone towards making Pedrina Park one of the best regional sports facilities in Western Victoria.

“Council is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of the community, and fixing the soccer field is a vital step in improving the experience for all players,” he said.

The Hamilton Soccer Club was formed back in 2001 and after originally playing at Mitchell Park and JLC Young Oval (Hamilton and Alexandra College Junior School) moved to the purpose-built pitch at Pedrina Park more than a decade ago.

Hamilton Soccer Club president, Rodney Perry said, “it’s wonderful to see the works finally being undertaken after the project was listed in the budget for the past three years.”

“Various issues stopped the work from happening until now and to have the project get the go ahead is exciting,” he said.

The issue of the drainage was highlighted last winter when cars had to be towed from the car park after getting bogged, which led to the club raising its concerns with the Shire of Southern Grampians that the problem had to be fixed as soon as possible.

The ground itself didn’t meet the standards required of all surfaces as laid down by Football Victoria and Football Australia and the project will bring the playing surface up to the required standard.

With the upgrading of the surface, Hamilton Soccer Club will be able to not only provide a great facility for its own members but also look to host representative carnivals for juniors in the future.

“The players will be able to showcase their skills even more with the improved pitch,” Perry said.

Hamilton Soccer Club hopes to regain the players it has lost due to the state of the facility over the last few years with the improved drainage system allowing players to perform with confidence knowing that the footing will be firm, and the chance injury greatly reduced.