By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
SOUTH Belgrave Football Club is taking a bold step in AFL infrastructure and becoming one of the first clubs in the state to use LED floodlights at their oval.
The new lights have been made possible through a funding collaboration between the club, Yarra Ranges Council, AFL Victoria and Federal MP Jason Wood.
“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 South Belgrave’s community and precinct development said.
“The benefits will be soon felt and wonderful over the long term.”
The council is responsible for replacing the lights at local sports ovals when needed, and it is the responsibility of the sports club to maintain the lighting.
The move to LED lights at South Belgrave will mean maintenance costs for the club will be drastically reduced.
“Over next 25 years we will save over $150,000 and that’s massive,” Mr Bakens said.
Lyster Ward Councillor Mike Clare said LED lights for South Belgrave would lead to big changes to sports grounds everywhere.
“We’re doing unique for Australia and for Belgrave South Football ground,” he said.
“It’s going to be match standard lighting so they can host AFL standard matches.
“It’s a real breakthrough, and they are going to be the first ground in Australia with high powered LED lighting.”
While the installation of the LED lights is more expensive than that current metal halogen lights, the savings to both council and the club will make a big difference in the long term.
“The current lights last two to three years but the LEDs last about 80,000 hours, which is about 200 years,” Cr Clarke said.
Mr Bakens said the savings were just one aspect of the benefits of using LED lights at the football ground.
“One of the great things about the LED lights is you can dim them, unlike the metal halogens,” he said.
“Previously, you would need to turn some of the metal halogen lights off and that has an effect on the uniformity of the light around the ground, with LED you can dim them and it’s a uniform light around the ground.”
AFL Victoria provided some 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.
Mr Bakens said the club was very excited to be part of this project and to all the stakeholders that made it possible.
“We never could have done it on our own,” he said.
“We have had such great support from corporations, government and the AFL and it has made it possible, and this will be an opportunity for councils and clubs all over the state to see what it’s like in action.”
