THE $1.4 million upgrade of Auston Oval at Morisset will include the installation of four LED light towers – the first use of the technology in sports fields in Lake Macquarie.
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It’s just one aspect of the Lake Macquarie City Council project that has Morisset United Football Club players and officials excited.
Club president Dainis Masens said the LED lights would be much brighter and higher than the old floodlights which he estimates were installed in the 1970s.
“When we were training here at night before, it was like we were running around with torches,” Mr Masens said.
‘’With these new lights we’ll be able to train and play here at night, we’ll be able to play catch-up games when needed, and the safety of the players will be improved.”
The new lighting will be installed at a cost of $165,000.
A spokesperson for Lake Macquarie City Council said cheaper maintenance costs and the longevity of the LED luminaires were among the other advantages of the new technology.
Club vice-president Craig Williams said the lack of quality lighting at the ground had held the club back.
“Last year, we got all of the lights working for a night game, but the referees came out, had one look, and said ‘no way!’’’ he said.
It’s not just the new light towers that will bring Auston Oval out of the dark ages.
The upgrade also includes the construction of a new amenities building budgeted to cost $875,000.
It is at lock-up stage and houses two change rooms, two store rooms, a large kiosk with storage space, a referee’s change room, and public toilets.
It replaces an old clubhouse building which Mr Williams said was erected in the 1960s.
A new carpark for 24 vehicles, estimated to cost $360,000, will complete the upgrade.
Mr Williams said Auston Oval was Morisset United’s spiritual home.
The upgrade would again enable all of the club’s senior teams to play at the same ground, and not shift home games to Bernie Goodwin Oval, at Morisset, or to Neville Thompson Oval, at Dora Creek.
Mr Williams said the works had been on the drawing board for 10 or 15 years, but he praised the council for delivering.
“Council has realised that this area is growing, and there are families coming here to live, and you have to give people something to do,” he said.
“The council are trying to do things for kids, and they have to, otherwise you’ll have kids sitting at home on their X-boxes.
“Everything they said they’d do here is coming to fruition.”
Council said the upgrade was expected to be completed in February, in time for the soccer season.