Nightcliff, Bagot oval lighting plans revealed

Junior sports teams could soon be playing games under lights, with a proposal to install lights at Nightcliff and Bagot ovals to be recommended to Darwin council at their meeting tomorrow night

Nightcliff president Jeff Borella said being able to field junior games under lights will improve community participation and growth of the game. Picture: Keri Megelus

Junior sports teams could soon be playing games under lights with a proposal to install lights at Nightcliff and Bagot ovals to be recommended to Darwin council at its meeting tomorrow night.

Tenders will be invited to construct the lights, designed by Harris Kmon Solutions.

Upon completion, Nightcliff Oval’s lights will be operational for training throughout the week until 9pm and for junior matches on Friday and Saturday night until 9.30pm, which will be used by the Nightcliff Football and Cricket clubs.

Nightcliff Football Club president Jeff Borella said the development of infrastructure at sports clubs would help attract the community to attend games.

“With the growth of the game, the league is looking at the under-10s and under-13 girls and putting them into clubs now … it won’t be just about training, we’ll actually be able to host junior games at the ground,” he said.

“Believe it or not, if it comes up to scratch we may be able to play Premier League games eventually … it helps across all grades.”

Nightcliff will also unveil a new scoreboard in two weeks against Waratah and has plans for a new grandstand, while a new car park is a part of the plans at Bagot Oval.

The Bagot Oval development will see lights permitted for use for training until 9.15pm from Monday to Thursday and for matches until 9.15pm on Fridays and until 7pm on Sundays for the Mindil Aces Football Club.

If accepted, the plans will see four 30m towers erected at Nightcliff Oval and six 28.5m towers erected at Bagot Oval, which consists of two full size and six smaller playing fields.

The project would come as part of a $3.5 million commitment from the NT Government grant from the 2017-2019 financial years, with the combined life operation cost over 25 years to be $509,766.68.

If council endorses the proposals, both Bagot Oval and Nightcliff ovals lights will seek cost estimates for the lighting design, before going to the Development Consent authority in March