Sporting clubs were surprised by the state government’s $450,000 announcement, which will result in eight 100-lux lights being built on the north field.

The City of Ballarat contributed another $300,000, joining the money from the state government’s Female Friendly Facilities Fund.

The reserve, which has existed since 1861, is the home ground for about 1000 people of all ages, for sports as diverse as cricket and touch football to ultimate frisbee and soccer.

Reserve committee of management chairman Damian Ryan, wearing East Ballarat Cricket Club colours, said the lights would help distribute the grounds to all the clubs fairly, especially when wet weather forced them all to use the south field.

“There’s lights (on the south field), and everyone’s queuing up to use that,” he said.

“It’ll have enormous use – we’re a summer sport, but it does open up the possibility of playing day-night games.”

The new lights could double the Ballarat Touch Football Association’s league, and will help the development of single-sex leagues, according to president Tim Cromb.

“Having four fields on the north oval, currently we can run up to 24 teams – we’re very close to full,” he said.

“In the last five or six years we’ve grown every year, and this year we dropped one team but we haven’t dropped numbers.”

READ MORE: Growth in Ballarat soccer leading to greater need for infrastructure.

North Ballarat United president Tony Beggs said the soccer club had waited four years for the announcement.

“At 6pm, kids are going into darkness getting into cars, and we just can’t keep doing this,” he said.

“If you’re training for soccer, you don’t see half a ball with the lights on the wall.”

Ballarat deputy mayor Daniel Moloney said there was more work to be done, especially in encouraging girls and women into sport.

“It’s making sure people are active all year round - too often people go into hibernation over winter, it’s an excuse,” he said.

Mr Eren said the lighting would make sure growth could be accommodated and encourage young people to join sporting clubs.

Construction is expected to be finished before winter.