Barlow Park to receive $8.35m lighting upgrade as well as video replay screen
A major upgrade to Cairns’ “premier rectangular sporting facility” will be complete within a year as council considers further enhancements. See what the upgrade includes.
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Barlow Park will receive an $8.35m upgrade that includes $7m for improved lighting and a $1.3m video replay screen.
The council approved i-LEC Group Pty Ltd as the contractor as well as a project launch budget of $10.9m at its Wednesday Ordinary meeting.
The works will commence in September; the council plans to complete the project by “mid-2024”.
The council received $4m from the state government to fund the project.
Division 7 councillor Max O’Halloran said the upgrade was the beginning of more future upgrades.
“We’re at the starting line now of something that has been wanted for a long time,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“From little things big things grow … there’s some things in the pipeline … this is the beginning of something that is really needed.”
The works will include the erection of four new light poles, approximately 51m high, a new Ergon site power supply and a video replay screen 13.1m wide and 7.36m high.
The council is conducting the lighting upgrade to attract national sporting games as well as significant cultural and music events.
According to a council report, the current lighting at the ground is capable of 500 lux.
The lighting will be upgraded to 1400 lux, suitable for television broadcast.
“The video replay screen is considered an important feature to the upgraded facilities. Barlow Park competes with a number of other regional facilities for national content and the absence of a large replay screen as compared to these competing venues is seen ad a cost impediment by event proponents,” the council report stated.
“Council has a longstanding relationship with the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Club who recently held an NRL premiership match at Barlow Park. Advice from their event staff is the cost to hire the screen for this event has more than doubled as compared to the last time they played in Cairns.
“The proposed video replay screen will cost $1.32m excluding GST.
“The screen will be located at the top of the eastern hill (corner of Spence St and Severin St) … the location has difficult construction access for machinery … requiring a temporary earth ramp to be constructed off Spence St to access the site.”
In the council’s risk management analysis, it has assessed the risk of Ergon delaying the project as high, but said Ergon is working toward a completion date of May 21, 2024.
The council has also anticipated a possible funding shortfall of $920,000.
If the shortfall is realised and the council’s contingency allocation is insufficient to make up the difference, the council will draw funds from its asphalt overlay program.
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