Old trees between the Ballan Recreation Reserve and the train line are being removed, after one fell on the tracks in August last year, but work still hasn’t finished.

This means a new fence and net can’t be put up to stop balls being kicked onto the tracks.

Ballan’s under 15s coach Luke Mullane said something needed to be done before someone got hurt.

“On Monday night training, two balls went up on the railway line and a little kid went straight up to get it – that’s not good,” he said.

“As a parent and a coach, it’s a nightmare.”

The tree removal has been part of the recreation reserve committee’s plan for years - the trees are old, and had been dropping branches.

Trees to the west of the ground were removed last year.

However, it’s been more than a month since work began on the trees to the south.

Contractors hired by the Department of Land, Environment, Water, and Planning have been cutting down branches since January, but there’s no word on when work will be finished.

DELWP’s land and built environment regional manager Grant Hull said “major works” should be finished before the season begins.

“DELWP has been working alongside the Ballan Recreation Reserve Committee of Management for the past three years to remove declining and dangerous cypress trees from the western and southern boundaries of the Ballan Recreation Reserve under its Public Safety on Public Land program,” he said.

“The aim of this work is to protect reserve users, the local community and the Ballarat to Melbourne rail line.

“Public safety is DELWP’s primary concern.”

Mr Hull said temporary fencing had been installed, but had been “moved aside or damaged by unknown users attempting access” on occasion.

“It was agreed that for training purposes, the goal posts on the northern side of the ground be used while works are underway,” he said.

For football president Josh Mullane - Luke’s brother and recreation reserve committee member - this isn’t good enough.

“The committee’s been talking to DELWP, we’ve asked them to remove the stumps, bring the fence back to its original condition, then check with VicTrack and build a code compliant fence,” he said.

“From a community perspective, we’ve got a bit of flak - is it going to be ready for football? Our first home game is on April 8.”

Mr Hull confirmed that replacement fencing is a priority.

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