HEAVY rain and even heavier traffic on the Beaconsfield football oval have prompted fears the playing surface won’t cope with the workload.

The growing army of junior and senior footballers using the Perc Allison reserve, coupled with an onslaught of wintry weather on the weekend, turned parts of the usually picturesque oval into a muddy bog.

The ground’s condition has led club officials to warn drastic action may be necessary with some games possibility having to be shifted to try and protect the playing surface.

Junior footballers are looking at playing home games at Doveton — outside the Cardinia Shire — while senior players are not training on the oval this week. Club officials say the ground’s condition highlights the lack of sporting facilities available in the area.

Beaconsfield Football Club secretary Judy Ruse, whose husband Erik is the groundsman, said the oval was almost unplayable and winter was still weeks away.

“On any home weekend we can have up to seven games on the oval and obviously the very heavy rain has caused the surface to be severely affected,” Mrs Ruse said.

“It is a huge disappointment to have to move home games outside of our local area but unfortunately, there are no local ovals that can accommodate us.”

Mrs Ruse said the continuing popularity and success of the Beaconsfield Football Club had resulted in extra teams this year.

Four senior teams, two super rules and two junior teams train at the reserve.

Senior coach Haydn Robins said training had been moved away from the oval this week.

“It’s very disappointing, it’s going to be a week to week proposition for a while,” he said.

Beaconsfield Junior Football Club president Brian McPhie said his club was “bursting at the seams”.

Mr McPhie said the club had capped membership to rein in numbers and try and manage the problem but there were still concerns about overuse of playing fields at Beaconsfield and Upper Beaconsfield.

“We have had to lease other grounds for training purposes at a great cost to our club.

“This is a major community issue and it will continue to grow,” Mr McPhie said.

Cardinia Shire Council has been urged to give the issue urgent attention.

Mrs Ruse said both the seniors and juniors would lobby council for extra ovals in the Beaconsfield area.

Cardinia Central Ward representative Brett Owen said council recognised the need for more playing space.

Cr Owen said council was looking to meet with sporting groups and local residents to discuss the options.

“We definitely understand the issue and are looking at ways we can tackle it,” he said.

A shortterm fix could be the development of a reserve in O’Neil Road as a home for junior sport while council was looking at upgrading Home Park in the longer term, Cr Owen.

“The situation has come to a head now but the solution is definitely not 10 years away, we’re closer than that.”

Council last year adopted a strategy that recommended a massive investment in sports and recreation over the next 25 years.