New lights for Scottsdale grounds
• Stuart Burr, reserves coach, at the ground where the new lighting will be installed.
By Taylor Clyne
April 29, 2020
A Sport and Recreation grant from the State Government, coupled with financial assistance from the Dorset Council and the Scottsdale Football Club will enable the current ground lighting on the main oval at the Scottsdale Recreation Ground to be upgraded.
The government announced their contribution of $37,000 in February.
The Dorset Council approved its contribution of $15,000 this week while the football club will commit $23,000 to the project which will commence in May.
Dorset Council’s director of corporate services John Marik told councillors that the football club is the largest sporting organisation in the Dorset municipality.
“It has a long history of investing its own funds in the Scottsdale Recreation Ground facilities. It is Council’s understanding that the upgrade of the lighting is required by the AFL and as this was an unforeseen circumstance when the budget was set in 2019, it is therefore necessary to make a budget variance so that Council can honour its commitment to support the project,” Mr Marik said.
Football club president Cameron Moore said that the current system for the ground has metal halide lighting with a lux value of 100 and was originally constructed in 2007.
“While these lights have proved beneficial to our club and other recreation ground users for 12 years, new AFL standards demand that for NTFA, NTFAW and NTJFA night matches, the lux value must be 200,”Moore said.
“This project involves replacing the existing six metal halide lights on each tower with seven LED lights on the towers. This will increase the total lux value to that demanded for playing matches. An additional benefit will be that the new lighting will be cheaper to run than the current system.
“Some existing lights have deteriorated to the point where they are failing to illuminate, while others are slow to activate. The lack of reliable visibility is becoming a health and safety issue,” he added.
Mr Moore said the upgrade will provide increased safety and quality for participants from Auskick through to senior men and women.
“We have 325 registered players and it’s important that we take into account their health and safety as well as give them the best possible facilities.
“It will also provide an improved quality in facilities for other users, such as the North Eastern Agricultural and Pastoral Society and the North Eastern Pacing Club who will also benefit from the improved lighting,” he said.
Mr Moore thanked the State government and Dorset Council for their contributions.
“Our commitment of $23,000 was obviously based on playing football this year and the accompanying revenue. However with footy looking increasingly unlikely to start, we will have to adjust our budget,” he said.
“But we will be able to play night footy in the future and that’s a great outcome for all the players and the community.”