Junee's Laurie Daley Oval will soon benefit from a major lighting upgrade, with $260,000 in funding secured through the NSW Government's ClubsGrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program.
The project will replace four existing light towers with modern energy-efficient LED lighting to enhance the venue for the Junee Diesels Rugby League Club and the broader community.
Nationals Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the funding is a significant win for Junee, which boasts a long and successful rugby league history.
"You could even say this upgrade marks a bright new chapter for the club and our region," Ms Cooke said.
"This new lighting will improve energy efficiency, which means lower running costs and greater flexibility for the men's and women's sides to train safely in the evenings.
"Next year, the Junee Diesels will celebrate 100 years since the club's formation, and I'm proud that we've been able to secure this much-needed upgrade ahead of that milestone."
Laurie Daley Oval is also home to the Riverina Schoolboys Football Carnival, one of the longest-running junior rugby league carnivals in NSW.
The former Nationals government has a history of supporting sporting infrastructure projects in Junee, including $346,425 from the Stronger Country Communities Fund in 2021 to build new changerooms for female athletes at Loftus Oval.
"Sport unites small communities like nothing else, so it's increasingly important that governments invest in the infrastructure that facilitates local competition as well as community events," Ms Cooke said.
"These investments directly benefit the wellbeing of our communities by encouraging residents to socialise with others and to be active."
