‘Trickle feed’ funding in race for world-class Olympic venue
Four million dollars to upgrade lighting at Barlow Park has been dubbed “trickle feed” funding in the delivery of a world class stadium in time for the 2032 Olympic Games.
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FOUR million dollars to upgrade lighting at Barlow Park has been dubbed “trickle feed” funding in the delivery of a world-class stadium in time for the 2032 Olympic Games.
On Thursday Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced existing 500 lux lighting would be upgraded to an 1800 lux broadcast TV standard in the first stage of a broader upgrade to include new seating for 5,000 to ensure the venue is Games-ready.
But the total cost of a lighting overhaul at the grounds is expected to cost $10m.
And $120m is needed to convert Barlow Park to a true world-class rectangular stadium.
While Enterprise North executive manager Kevin Byrne welcomed better lighting – that hoped to attract NRL matches to the Far North – he raised questions about how the investment would dovetail with a broader plan.
“We did need a lighting upgrade but $4m is not going to cover it,” he said.
“This is just an extraordinary trickle feed of hope.
“Cairns Regional Council and the state government really need to bite the bullet and come up with a comprehensive plan.”
Mr Hinchliffe said the International Olympic Committee has accepted a pitch for Barlow Park to host preliminary Olympic football matches and new lighting offered opportunities for all rectangular field sports.
“Also athletics having broadcast quality (and a) high quality athlete’s facility will attract events into the future particularly on that green and gold runway through to 2032 where there is a strong appetite for having events in a fantastic Far North Queensland winter,” he said. NRL chief Andrew Abdo said Cairns was part of rugby league heartland and fans would be drawn from across the region for premiership games if Barlow Park could secure fixtures.
“The planned upgrades … will help Cairns secure more rugby league matches in the future,” Mr Abdo said.
The next step in the current upgrade is the procurement of lights and determining if existing poles are fit for purpose – a delivery plan is yet to be finalised with Cairns Regional Council.
Cairns MP Michael Healy said the new LED lighting would attract high profile matches that would in turn draw extra visitors to contribute to the city’s tourism coffers.
“More high-quality sport broadcast live from Cairns to the nation has great potential to kick goals for growing and diversifying our visitor economy,” he said.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning welcomed the funding for new lights.
“Meeting broadcasting standards provides more opportunities to chase premier sporting fixtures and adds to the city’s growing reputation as a major events destination,” Mayor Manning said.
Optimistic about Barlow Park being considered as a 2027 Rugby World Cup venue Mr Byrne urged haste to secure extra seating and a solution to a running track separating crowds from the on-field action.
“(Lighting upgrades) will attract more people into the ground even if they may need binoculars,” he said.
“But the big question is how sincere are they in development of Barlow Park for the future.”
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Originally published as ‘Trickle feed’ funding in race for world-class Olympic venue
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