More than 20 neighbours object to St Michael’s Grammar plan for lights at oval

Students at a St Kilda private school have to take buses to sports training due to a lack of adequate training facilities. And the school’s plans to fix the problem have been panned by neighbours.

St Michael's Grammar School has lodged an application to install flood lights at its sports oval.

Neighbours have baulked at an elite private school’s plans to install floodlights at its sports oval in St Kilda.

St Michael’s Grammar has lodged an application to splash $55,000 to put lights at the ground, which backs on to Marlton Crescent.

It currently has no lights, with children bussed to different locations around Melbourne for after school sports practice and matches.

“This adds significant cost to the school, as they are required to hire alternative sporting grounds,” the proposal states.

“It has also proven to be inefficient and frustrating for parents, who must travel further to drop off and pick up children from practice in the evening.

“The addition of lighting (to 8.30pm) will allow this area to be used by the school for evening sports practice and is highly consistent with other school facilities around Melbourne.”

The plans submitted to the council show eight 10m-high non-competition grade flood lights would be installed at the oval.

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An illuminance study found “the lights will not cause any unreasonable material detriment on the amenity of the surrounding area”, the report states.

But 21 people have so far objected to the 124-year-old inner-city school’s plans, citing concerns for light spill, parking congestion and noise.

Issues regarding visual impact, increased traffic in the surrounding residential streets and loss of amenity were also raised.

Port Phillip Acting Mayor Louise Crawford said council officers had asked St Michael’s to provide further information on its plans and the application could not be determined until this was submitted.