The Ellenbrook Junior Football Club is appealing to the City of Swan to fund lighting at Woodlake Oval to allow it to cater for more players on an oval in better condition.
Club president Ashley Trachy said the club had more than 500 members playing throughout the season, and all evening training sessions had to be held at Coolamon Oval, despite better grounds at the nearby Woodlake Oval.
But City chief executive Mike Foley said the lack of change rooms and toilet facilities at Woodlake Oval would limit use of the grounds, even if lighting was installed.
The huge membership base and limited oval space meant the condition of Coolamon Oval deteriorated significantly over the course of a season, making it tough on players and also the cricket club which plays there during summer.
Mr Trachy is concerned that with the influx of families with young children to the area, the club would soon reach capacity but it did not want to turn anyone away.
“With two new primary schools destined for Ellenbrook in the next few years, there are going to be more kids who want to play sport locally,” he said.
“We don’t want to have to turn any kids away – and we shouldn’t have to.”
With both junior and senior teams using the oval seven days a week, the ground has been reduced to potholed sand with patches of grass.
Mr Trachy said discussions with the City had come to a standstill as any future planning was restricted by the Ellenbrook District Open Space plan which is due to be released for public comment later in the 2010-11 financial year.
Mr Foley said a new oval with lighting would be developed on Turkich Parade in Ellenbrook in 2012.
“A number of options are being investigated to address issues such as lighting,” he said.
“These options will be assessed so that an acceptable outcome for the community is achieved.”