Cash needed for lights

THE chairman of the Townsville Australian Football League, Maurie Soars, has strongly backed the need to upgrade lighting at the city’s Riverway Stadium.

But he said that because of the size and scope of the project, which he believed would cost about $ 8 million, it needed government support.

Mr Soars, who sits on the Townsville City Council, which has already indicated its support, was making his comments as chairman of the local AFL competition. Mayor Jenny Hill has said state or federal government funding was needed for broadcast- quality lighting, as well as a detailed analysis to understand exactly what was required.

Mr Soars said the current lights at the stadium barely met the requirements for the staging of local games.

He said improvement to television broadcast standard would help attract more toplevel Australian Football League games, lift participation in the sport and help activate the Riverway precinct.

“From Townsville AFL, we’d love to see the lights upgraded to meet conditions for television standards,” Mr Soars said.

He said he had raised the issue with the sport’s state body, AFL Queensland, which also said the idea needed government support.

Mr Soars said one of the issues was the need to develop the light towers and foundations to meet the more stringent cyclone rating standards in North Queensland.

“The cost of the foundations and the poles is where most of the cost is involved,” Mr Soars said.

The cost to run the lights was also a factor.

Mr Soars said he would discuss the issue further with state MPs prise.

Installing lights has been an idea for at least the past five years as a means of attracting day- night international cricket Tests, T20 Big Bash League games and Australian Football League fixtures.

Then prime minister Kevin Rudd announced $ 5 million in funding to install the lights when he met with the Townsville mayor and Townsville Chamber of Commerce in July 2013.

But with the Labor Government losing to the Coalition and Townsville Enter- led by Tony Abbott, the funding was not realised.

Ms Hill has said major funding support from other levels of government is required.

She said a detailed analysis would be needed to understand exactly what lighting technology was required to ensure they would continue to meet future broadcast standards.

“Most major stadiums with broadcast- quality lights are funded and managed by the State Government, such as the Gabba or Metricon Stadium,” Ms Hill said.