- GREG KELTON, STATE POLITICAL REPORTER
February 08, 2007 02:30pm
MAJOR development status has been granted to a plan by the SANFL to install new lighting at Football Park.
The move will speed up the development and approval process for the plan to replace the head frames on the light towers at the stadium.
Originally switched on in 1984, the head frames on the existing four towers have become severely corroded and must be replaced.
SANFL executive commissioner Leigh Whicker said the proposed new installation would direct maximum light on to the playing surface, substantially reducing the light "spill" into the adjacent neighbourhood.
He said the league had advice from its engineers that while the existing tower sections were in good condition, the head frames should be replaced before 2008 in the interests of public safety.
The light fittings also need replacing as they have deteriorated during more than two decades of operation.
Mr Whicker said the 52m height of the existing towers and head frames had caused a number of problems including uneven illumination across the stadium playing surface, potentially dangerous glare to motorists on West Lakes Boulevard and excessive light spillage onto nearby homes.
He said the work would involved increasing the tower height by adding an extra two mast sections to each tower.
New headframes on each tower would support 136 2000-watt light fittings.
"They will be designed to minimise the effects of corrosion from salt spray and to direct maximum light onto the playing surface," Mr Whicker said.
"Since the installation of the current light towers, we have seen the popularity of night football grow and substantial technological advances have been made in the area of stadia sports lighting.
"The new lighting system will also be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye and bring Footy Park into line with every other sporting stadium in the country where night sport is played."
Urban Development Minister Paul Holloway said the scale of the lighting project and its environmental, economic and social significance meant major development status was warranted.
He said this triggered a comprehensive and co-ordinated assessment path that must be followed by the SANFL, including stringent assessment of the proposal and public consultation.
"This decision does not indicate the Government's support or otherwise for the proposal," Mr Holloway said.
"It simply kick-starts the stringent assessment process."
