Western Power fails to deliver Santich Park floodlights in time for footy season, kids hurt training in dark

Young kids have broken bones and been concussed after floodlights promised for Santich Park this footy season have not arrived, forcing players to train in the dark. Santich Park is home to the growing South Coogee Junior Football Club, where they registered more teams and players this year after being promised the second oval at their training ground would have floodlights for the season season. But with the longer nights of winter darkness on the doorstep, SCJFC vice-president Glen Andrews has been forced to cancel training as “major safety concerns” shake the club. “We have got to the point where parents put on their phone torches and car spotlights so their kids can train,” Mr Andrews told PerthNow. “We were promised the lights would be on by the start of the footy season which is April ... it’s the end of May now and it has become near-impossible for our kids to see the ball after 5.30pm. “We got more players and teams because we thought we could accommodate more training sessions with the second oval functional at night.” As well as the northern oval being impossible to train on after dark, one of the floodlights for the other oval has been out of action, leaving just three-quarters of a field usable. One young player recently broke a finger trying to tackle in the dark. Mr Andrews said without sufficient lighting, the players’ safety was at risk more than ever before. “He will be out for the season now because there was no lighting,” he said. “I would hate to think what else could happen. It’s so hard for them to see so when they are going up for a ball with another player, they don’t have any clarity. “There’s been a few too many close calls, it’s a major safety concern ... not to mention we train to teach them to tackle right and if we can’t teach it each week, the more chance they can get hurt on game day.” The club began looking into other ovals to train on after Western Power revealed the project was expected to take another month. “Western Power understands the community benefits of this project and connection of upgraded lighting at Santich Park will occur on 24 June 2025,” a Western Power spokesperson said. “With more than 6000 project applications received each year, we prioritise housing, health and essential services. “We work with customers to deliver their projects as soon as these areas of significant community need are met.” WA Football told PerthNow it was aware of the matter and had reached out to the City of Cockburn, which leases the oval. “The safety and wellbeing of our junior footballers is paramount and we’re hopeful the issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” a WA Football spokesperson said.