Moranbah Bulldogs receive new lighting, surface and fencing in sporting grant

The lights are on and everyone is home at the Bulldogs as the football club’s home receives an enviable facelift.

As the sun sets on the coalfields in Moranbah, the sporting ground in the heart of town will now be able to come to life.

The E.C. Stevenson Oval, the home of the Moranbah Bulldogs football club, has received a facelift to its facilities.

Bulldogs president Stephen Thompson said it was a fantastic achievement for the club.

“It’s not just for our footy club, but there are a number of community groups that can now use the field for various things,” he said.

“The support from the Isaac Regional Council has been incredible, we’ve seen an extreme growth in the sport since 2017 and it’s great to create a platform for the local community to be involved.”

Moranbah Bulldogs defeat the Whitsunday Sea Eagles in the u17s AFL grand final at Magpies Sporting Club, Mackay, September 11, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

The $410,000 grant was spent on new competition-level lighting, as well as a new playing surface and fence.

Thompson said the lighting helped the teams train longer into the night, but also gave the club the chance to host finals in future seasons, with the grand final a dream for the community.

Bulldogs president Stephen Thompson.

“We’ll certainly now put our hat in the ring for host finals, it’s always met with a bit of ‘we don’t want to travel out there’ from the other clubs,” he said.

“We’re able to host any night matches at our facilities, which is good, it makes us just one of three clubs that have the level of lighting required.

“We’ll be the envy of the competition.”

E.C. Stevenson Oval at Moranbah, November 16, 2021. Picture: Contributed

Isaac Mayor Anne Baker said the region deserved a top-quality ground in Moranbah.

“Grounds such as this are integral to our social fabric where we spend a lot of time outdoors and being active,” she said.

“It’s another fantastic venue to connect with family and friends, the Isaac region is a community with a proud history, steeped in a diverse and active lifestyle.”

Originally published as Moranbah Bulldogs receive new lighting, surface and fencing in sporting grant