State-of-the-art lighting for popular football field

High-quality floodlights equipped with a powerful, energy-efficient beam will brighten up night-time sporting fixtures for players and spectators at Hamilton South’s Darling Street Oval thanks to support from the City of Newcastle.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the installation of the new state-of-the-art lights would enable local sporting clubs, such as Newcastle Olympic SFC, to reclaim the use of the oval after dark.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Newcastle Olympic SFC Chairman Christo Patsan and club players

“City of Newcastle has invested $295,000 into the $400,000 project to provide an improved night-time playing experience for users and sporting clubs,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The LED lights utilise a world first, Australian-designed reflector system which improves lighting performance, delivering a high-powered LED floodlighting experience 40 per more efficient than traditional floodlights.

“Not only have we delivered new-and-improved floodlighting, but City of Newcastle is also proud to have worked closely with the community to develop a site Masterplan, and complete significant upgrades to the existing sporting infrastructure to improve amenity across the site.”

Newcastle Olympic SFC under the new Darling Street Oval lights

Newcastle Olympic SFC Chairman Christo Patsan said the lights were an important milestone in the upgrade of Darling Street Oval.

“We’ve been working with City of Newcastle on an overall masterplan for the redevelopment of Darling Street Oval since 2016, so to see the oval under lights is going to be amazing,” he said.

Mr Patsan said the upgrades would allow Darling Street Oval to host international sporting events, coaching clinics and tournaments, as well as allow his club, Newcastle Olympic SFC, to host events for the underprivileged.

“The new lights give us the ability to activate the oval for longer periods of time, and also to give back to our community through sporting clinics including events and football clinics for refugee children.”

Funding to install the new LED floodlighting system was provided by City of Newcastle, the NSW Government through the Asian Cup Legacy Fund and Newcastle Olympic SFC.

Other works at Darling Street Oval include the expansion of the playing field to meet modern standards, renewed sub-soil drainage, water recycling and irrigation, construction of a new grandstand and additional spectator seating around the oval."