New field lighting installed at Armidale's Harris Park sportsground

New field lighting has been added at Harris Park sportsground in the northern NSW city of Armidale with the installation of the six 25-30metre high steel poles and cost effective variable intensity LED luminaires.

The project was delivered as a result of $190,000 from the Federal Government's controversial Community Sport Infrastructure Program, with Armidale Regional Council adding a further $70,000 and $90,000 from developer contributions.

Harris Park is well utilised by a number of sporting clubs including athletics, soccer and cricket. The new lighting will enable night training. The lights can be controlled via a mobile phone app, allowing the hours of operations for sport training to be limited to not later than 10pm.

Armidale Regional Council Interim Administrator Viv May said the new lights added to the high quality sporting facilities already available in the Armidale region noting “we have some wonderful sporting facilities that positions us well to attract regional and national sporting events to our region in the future which contributes significantly to our local economy.

“We really are spoilt for choice! A new grandstand at Guyra Rugby League Park, new indoor cricket training facility currently under construction at the Armidale Sportsground and the new lights at Harris Park round-off a great year of investment in our sporting infrastructure.”

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, who claimed he had helped ensure the funding, advised that the installation provided world-class sports lighting capabilities “right here on our doorstep”.

Image: Member for New England Barnaby Joyce and Interim Administrator Viv May joined representatives of the sporting community and Council staff last Friday evening to officially switch on the new field lighting installed at Harris Park sportsground in Armidale. Courtesy of Armidale Regional Council