LAKE Wendouree’s Steve Moneghetti Track is one step closer to lighting up at night.
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State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has pledged $1.7 million to the project, left more than a decade in the dark, should the Liberal Nationals win government in November.
Mr Guy launched made the plan on Thursday before setting out to run a lap of the six-kilometre track with Western Victoria Liberal MP Joshua Morris and Liberal candidates Amy Johnson (Wendouree) and Andrew Kilmartin (Buninyong).
“What better way to launch lighting on this fab track, albeit on a cold day , than to run it,” Mr Guy said.
“Getting out, getting fit regardless of the weather is something we should all be focusing on...We’ve got to encourage our community to stay fit but we’ve got to put in place the resources and infrastructure to enable that to be done.”
Lake lighting has been deemed a City of Ballarat top priority for the precinct with more than 80 per cent of Ballarat residents supporting the concept.
Mr Guy said funds would be made available by the first budget, should the Coalition win power.
Lighting installation will allow for the track to be lit in early morning and in the evening to promote a safer place for people to get moving, particularly in winter months. Council has already identified lighting would be timed and in heritage style.
The move has been welcomed by Mr Moneghetti, who has long called for lighting of the track in his name, and Olympic basketballer Ray Borner, who both said the lights would create potential for greater lake use.
Mr Moneghetti said the lake already had round-the-clock recreation use, but lights could open up the chance for year-round lakeside events.
Mr Borner, an Olympic basketballer, said lighting would be a great start to further enhancing the lake as an active hub, encouraging people to exercise. He would also like to see strength and conditioning points at the lake for all abilities.
“With our obesity problem we’ve got in Ballarat, it means people are able to get out and feel safe exercising so this lighting is really going to help,” Mr Borner said.
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