It could cost a Maitland sporting club as much as $100,000 to provide adequate lighting at its home ground for the safety of junior players.
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The electricity transformer that powers the lights on the grounds at Marcellin Park, home of the Maitland Blacks Rugby Union Club, is strong enough to illuminate all but one of the playing fields and the car park, according to junior coach and committee member Michael Kelly.
Mr Kelly said the transformer provided about half the power needed to adequately light the grounds, which was a significant problem during evening training sessions.
The junior players were the ones who bore the brunt of the problem, Mr Kelly said, because they trained on the darkest of the fields.
He said the lack of lighting in the car park also posed a safety risk to the juniors, who were children as young as six and not easy for drivers to see.
Mr Kelly said Ausgrid would put the work contract for the upgrades to tender but it would likely be the rugby club’s responsibility to pay for the work, which could cost an estimated $100,000.
“We can’t pay for it, the application fee [for the upgrades] alone is $1200,” he said.
“We are very strict on the safety of the kids, but the car park is in near darkness. Kids could get run over.
“If we can get the power upgrade then we will do what we can to light up the field and car park.”
In a letter to Ausgrid obtained by the Mercury, Maitland Junior Rugby Union president Vic Davey appealed to the company to supply enough power to meet the club’s ongoing demand.
“We are currently running an under sevens program and the local community has impressed with 71 registrations in the program,” Mr Davey wrote.
“This is fantastic for the local area but, with this situation, 70-odd children, siblings and families in the car park at twilight, we would like to make it safer with lighting but we require assistance to supply the power to the boundary to make the lighting for the grounds and car park area possible.
“Marcellin Park is 100 per cent funded by parents, families and sponsors, with all maintenance and development costs met by the club and we are only one of two grounds in the competition that are not council owned.”
Newcastle Rugby Union has also thrown its support behind the Maitland club’s request.