Let There Be Light(s), Sports Action And Fun

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP and the Lord Mayor of Wollongong Gordon Bradbery AM have today joined with representatives from the Port Kembla Pumas Football Club to announce that new sports lighting at the King George V oval is extending play time at Port Kembla’s popular sports field.

Funded through a $321,500 grant from the NSW Government’s Port Kembla Community Investment Fund, the project has seen new LED lighting installed around the grounds with new lighting towers and power supply to cover two sporting fields.

Member for Kiama and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, The Hon. Gareth Ward MP said: “I was very pleased to secure funding for this project under the NSW Government’s Port Kembla Community Investment Fund,” he said.

“The new LED sports lighting at King George V Oval is having a really positive and immediate impact for players who use these popular fields in Port Kembla. It is making a real difference with players being able to use this facility for longer under the new lighting which has been installed.

“I am pleased that the NSW Government established this fund to invest in and help grow the Port Kembla community – it is certainly making a positive difference,” Minister Ward said.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said: “We have experienced increased usage and demand for our sporting fields throughout the city,” he said.

“With new State-of-the-art lighting we can extend the hours that players can train and enjoy a game on these popular fields in Port Kembla.

“This project directly helps many members of our community become healthier and helps with the social interaction that many sports people enjoy. This is one of the great benefits of the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund it helps to bring people together,” the Lord Mayor said.

The LED lighting includes six new 21-metre high poles with each containing three LED lights.  The energy efficient lighting will help to reduce lighting pollution and are more durable and lower maintenance than conventional lighting. They also meet Australian Standards for sports fields and also for obtrusive lighting.

The lighting has wireless control so that Council officers can switch off the lighting when it’s not required. The officers will have access to dimming controls so that they can control the brightness of lighting depending on the needs of the community group using the fields.

NSW Government established the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund to activate, enhance and build community amenity in Port Kembla.

The ongoing program is linked to the long-term lease of Port Kembla. The program is designed to achieve:

• Increased economic activity;
• Enhanced activation and connectivity of public infrastructure, precincts and community spaces;
• Improved environmental air, land and waterway quality; and
• Projects funded under the fund must positively contribute to one or more of these desired outcomes.

Under the program there have been 42 projects funded since the first round in 2016.

For more information visit Council’s website at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au or contact our Customer Service team on (02) 4227 7111.