City of Darwin council approves Gardens Oval lights to keep shining at 500 lux following trial

Gardens Oval will be lit up with 500 lux-strong lighting for three evenings a week from now on after Darwin council approved its ongoing use following a successful trial.

Gardens Oval will be lit up with 500 lux-strong lighting for three evenings a week from now on after Darwin council approved their ongoing use following a successful trial. Picture: Global Headquarters

• Gardens Oval lights to stay at 500 lux permanently: Recommendation

GARDENS Oval will be lit up with 500 lux-strong lighting for three evenings a week from now on after Darwin Council approved its ongoing use following a successful trial.

An application from NT Cricket to continue to use the higher powered lights from Thursday to Saturday, when senior matches are played, was unanimously supported by City of Darwin aldermen at their ordinary council meeting on Tuesday.

The lights will be operated at 100 lux from Monday to Wednesday for training, though they can be used at a higher brightness level in that time frame for one-off events subject to applications.

They will not be used at 500 lux past 9pm on Monday to Saturday.

The move comes after NT Cricket trialled using 500 lux lights at the oval on Thursday to Saturday nights between April and June.

Darwin aldermen were recommended to make the lighting arrangement permanent after no objections were received during the trial period.

Gardens Oval will be lit up with 500 lux-strong lighting for three evenings a week from now on after Darwin council approved their ongoing use following a successful trial. Picture: Global Headquarters

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Speaking before the meeting, NT Cricket chief executive Joel Morrison said the trial had been a “great success” that had allowed both men’s and women’s night-time matches to be played at the oval.

“We appreciate the efforts of City of Darwin who have worked really hard to get the balance right between maximising the use of the lights, while ensuring residents aren’t unduly impacted,” he said.

“With no issues raised during the trial we hope to receive approval to use the lights at full capacity on a permanent basis to support the development and growth of cricket in the Top End.”

The Gardens Oval lights were installed during the 2020 dry season and started operating on October 3, 2020, following years of debate.

The lights were originally allowed to be operated at 300 lux on Fridays and Saturdays to allow AFLNT premier league football games to be played at the ground, but that brightness was too low for senior cricket matches, which require 500 lux.

Council’s agreement with NT Cricket over the lights will be reviewed annually.