Bellerive Oval sees the light

THE operators of Bellerive Oval want to keep the lights on for longer.

A 99-page development application has been lodged with the Clarence City Council which details the type of acts and hours of operation at the state’s premier cricket venue.

Included in the application is an extension to the period of time lights can be used at Bellerive, from 11pm to midnight.

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said the extra hour of operation would allow for the crowd to disperse, rubbish to be collected and crews to pack up gear.

But local residents are unhappy with the plan.

CRICKET Tasmania wants to keep the lights shining for longer at Blundstone Arena.

The sporting body has submitted a development application to extend the operating hours of Blundstone Arena, much to the dismay of some Bellerive ratepayers.

The 99-page development application is before Clarence City Council and residents have until June 21 to make a submission. Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said the finishing time for events, including Big Bash League cricket games and the AFL, was 10.30pm, with light towers turned down to 25 per cent after 10.30pm and switched off by 11pm.

“Our application requests that the event is to conclude by 11pm with the reduced lighting (25 per cent) to go through until midnight,’’ he said.

“This allows time for the crowd to disperse, rubbish to be collected and camera crews to pack gear from hazardous positions.

“Tasmania Police have also requested on occasions for the lights to stay on to look for lost children or deal with other matters. No new uses or developments are proposed as part of the application.”

But resident Joanne Marsh said events at Blundstone Arena had negative impacts on the community relating to noise, lighting, rubbish and traffic and the latest attempt to extend those hours showed disrespect to the community.

“The light spill is horrible as it is,” she said.

“Litter and noise is always an issue after events. The streets are strewn with cans and half-empty bottles of beer.”

Sheenagh Neill called on the council to do noise monitoring on King, Hill and Alma streets and for parking attend- ants to stop people blocking driveways.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said there had been no formal request to monitor noise in those areas.

“Results from these locations are likely to be skewed by external factors such as distance, wind, traffic and reverberation from solid surface,” he said.

“The existing locations have been determined following construction of the new stand and were chosen based on modelling of expected noise receivers. Two council parking rangers are assigned to each major event at Blundstone Arena and work in conjunction with police in respect of any parking offences.”

Ald Chipman said during the past 12 months, the council had received one complaint regarding noise, one inquiry about alarms activating overnight and one complaint about rubbish on the oval lease.