When water and sports are mentioned in the same sentence most people think of wakeboarding, sailing or kayaking. But in Bacchus Marsh, cricket, soccer and Aussie Rules Football are front of mind for the community because our water nourishes the reserves where these sports take place. And Tim Van Orsouw, Team Leader Sports Fields at Moorabool Shire Council, says these spaces are essential to people’s health and well-being, particularly in a high growth area.
With its semi-rural lifestyle, affordability and proximity to Melbourne it’s no wonder Bacchus Marsh is booming. In fact, the population is estimated to double over the next two decades to around 40,000 residents.
Tim said while roads, schools and health services are essential, recreational reserves are vital infrastructure also needed to support thriving communities.
“Our team looks after several key recreational reserves including within the greater Bacchus Marsh area including Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, Darley Civic and Community Hub Recreation Reserve, Darley Park Recreation Reserve, Masons Lane Reserve Off-Leash Dog Park, Maddingly Park and 20 passive reserves,” he said.
Southern Rural Water supplies Moorabool Shire Council with water that’s delivered via our Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District network.
“The water comes from Pykes Creek Reservoir, goes down the Werribee River and then gets piped to our storage tanks before we use it,” Tim said.
“Secure, reliable water helps us to keep our reserves green, healthy and safe for people to play on,” he said.
Tim says Moorabool Shire Council has a great working relationship with Southern Rural Water that he really values.
“The field team and managers are good people to work with. They’re very helpful, letting us know how much supply we’ve got each week or fortnight, and supporting us with any other queries,” he said.
We spoke with Tim at the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve and it’s not hard to see why he’s so proud to manage the facility.
“Our Major Projects Team have built a world class reserve here with a full-size Australian Rules Football ground, two full size soccer grounds, a top tier BMX track, an all-abilities playground, two netball courts, two tennis courts and a network of walking tracks and passive reserves,” he said.
Tim said the facility has been designed using Water Sensitive Urban Design that aims to capture stormwater to make use of this valuable resource, reduce erosion and run-off into nearby waterways.
“We have a retention dam that captures excess run-off and gets recycled through our cutting-edge irrigation system,’ he said.
“Across the site, we've got rain, water flow and moisture sensors in the ground to detect the amount of moisture in the soil which helps us apply just the right amount of water.”
“This state-of-the-art technology helps us save water and use our water resources wisely,” he said.
Tim says the Racecourse and Recreation Reserve is the home of Bacchus Marsh Soccer Club and several other clubs also use the site.
“Community sport plays a vital role in building social connection and inclusion, boosting physical and mental health, and fostering a sense of belonging and civic pride,” he said.
“So, to have a facility like this is just gold and a real bonus to Bacchus Marsh,” he said.
For more information about Bacchus Marsh’s sport and recreation opportunities visit Moorabool Shire Council.