Lights were installed at Henry Miller (Burrangong), Keith Cullen and Sawpit Gully ovals in a bid to further the potential usage of the grounds after dark. 

The installation took place over three months as part of the NSW Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme.

According to Young Shire Council’s operations director, Dirk Wymer, only two minor delays held up the otherwise successful project.

“The project had some delays caused by late delivery of the poles, but generally the installation has gone very smoothly,” he said.

“The rain [last] week meant the contractor couldn’t finalise the focusing of the lights out at Burrangong, so they’ll be back [this] week just to make sure there’s no dark patches on the field.”

Aside from that all that’s left to do are clean-up works at Keith Cullen Oval to remove the bases of old poles, and removing site amenities.

The new lights have doubled the area available to the clubs who were left to train in minimal lighting once daylight saving ended.

“Junior league said the lights made a big difference to their Friday night competition,” Cr Wymer said.

“And we’ve been told the AFL club are quite happy because now they can train on both sides of the field, whereas previously they could only train in front of the older lights that were there.”

The Young Combined Hockey Association - who previously trained in front of floodlights propped on top of their canteen - have also seen a huge change since the installation.

Hockey club president Michael Skillen said the lights have improved Thursday night training sessions immensely, with players now able to use the full field.

“From all reports [the lights] are great - we can play games now which is a big change,” he said. “It’s a massive, massive difference to what we’ve had before.”

He hopes to see the same outcome for the second field in the coming years. 

Young Saints AFL Club’s player and committee member Geoff Harmer said it’s the first time in 40 years the club has had lights as good as these.

“It’s absolutely brilliant - the thing is we haven’t been able to do full field drills through the footy season until now, not on our AFL oval,” he said.

“We were very limited and now the younger guys and those needing development can train on a full field in game-sense drills and that can only be helpful in their personal development and our go-forward as a club.”

The lights have also been a big hit with parents and players of the Young Junior Rugby League Club, according to president Nick Hall.

“We had them on at training this week and they’re fantastic, and everyone is saying how great they were when we played Friday night footy last week,” he said.

“A lot of our Friday night games we’ve been stuck - the lights are either out or dim - and over the years we’ve had problems with training in the dark. 

“So these lights are fantastic, and it happened painlessly and quickly... it’s tremendous. 

“We’re a big club with 300 kids, that’s 300 kids with smiles on their faces.”