Wodonga Council applies for funding for Les Cheesley Oval and Birallee Park improvements

Wodonga Council this week ticked off an application to support grants for infrastructure works at the Martin Park No.2 ground and also an electronic scoreboard at Birallee Park.

The works at Les Cheesley Oval, including fencing along Gordon Street, an equipment storage facility and coaches, timekeepers boxes and player benches, would be bankrolled by $68,000 in state government funding and a council contribution of $34,000.

The Saints have shared use of John Flower Oval with Wodonga Bulldogs for matches since the club's formation in 2001 with the demise of Bethanga Saints, but uses Les Cheesley Oval to train.

Club president Adrian Barry said the club was preparing to play home matches at Les Cheesley Oval next season regardless of the outcome of the funding application.

"The draw hasn't come out yet, but hopefully everything goes to plan and we get on there pretty soon," he said.

"Council is of the impression the grant is a very good chance of happening.

"We've been the poor cousins for many years, needing to rent facilities off everybody.

"We just want to create a home of our own."

More use of a recently completed pavilion at Les Cheesley Oval will also happen when the Saints make the switch.

Heavy use of John Flower Oval in winter, presently estimated at 36 hours per week, will be eased under the move, with Les Cheesley Oval used 23 hours per week.

The Martin Park precinct will remain the home of the Bulldogs senior and junior clubs and the Saints for the foreseeable future despite the creation of the Baranduda Fields sporting complex where tenders for early works, including a football oval, have been released.

First stage works at Baranduda Fields also include two soccer fields with lighting, fencing and irrigation and a pavilion with grandstand seating.

But Cr Ron Mildren said maintaining existing sporting facilities was also important.

"These are admirable projects and we should be supporting them," he said.

"They are things that go on in our city and we should be supporting our communities."

Cr John Watson was equally supportive.

"It is showing our community that we are spending money not just on Baranduda Fields, but on (existing) community assets in our city," he said.

The Birallee Park scoreboard is estimated to cost $180,000 with grant funding covering $120,000 and Wodonga Raiders sporting clubs providing the balance.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: