By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE South Belgrave Recreation Reserve has made history as the first sports oval in Victoria to switch on new LED flood lighting at the sports ground.
The new lights have been made possible through a funding collaboration between the Belgrave South Football club, Yarra Ranges Council, AFL Victoria and state and federal governments.
“It’s going to be very beneficial for the club, and we will get a return on our investment in a handful of years,” Ian Bakens, co-ordinator of Belgrave South’s community and precinct development said.
The new lights were switched on at an official ceremony on Friday 5 August where state and federal MPs James Merlino and Jason Wood also revealed a plaque of commemoration for the new lights.
“I am proud to switch on new cost-efficient LED lighting for the main oval today,” Mr Merlino said.
“Clubs here can be reassured there is an even brighter future ahead with new clubrooms and a playground to come.”
The funding for the installation of the new lights was made possible through all levels of government and community working together.
The Belgrave South Football club contributed $60,000, council handed over $125,000 and state and federal governments chipped in with over $100,000 between them.
While the installation of the LED lights is more expensive than that current metal halogen lights, the maintenance savings to council and the football club will make a big difference in the long term.
The move to LED lights at South Belgrave will mean maintenance costs for the club will be drastically reduced.
“Over the next 25 years, we will save over $150,000 and that’s massive,” Mr Bakens said.
Lyster Ward Councillor Mike Clarke said he was very excited to see this project come to fruition.
“These new lights improve the reserve’s functionality for the South Belgrave Football Club as well as the community,” he said.
“I am excited these lights can last for 50,000 hours, which in terms of the club’s usage means they will last for many years to come.”
AFL Victoria provided $5000 of funding to this project as they are interested to see how the LED lights work for South Belgrave.
“AFL Victoria is interested to see a full oval lit with this technology and provide a case study on the operational savings that it should generate for the club,” AFL Victoria chief operating officer, Rick Bell, said.
Belgrave South Football Club president Tony Baker said he was proud to be part of such an innovative and progressive club.
“It’s about the bigger picture for us,” he said.
“These lights mean as much to the local schools and wider community who use this oval as they do to us.”
“South Belgrave is such a close knit community, so we are glad we can be innovative and progressive in a way that will benefit the whole town, we want to progress like that,” he said.
