’Burra’s bright future
THE night of Saturday, April 12 is an important one for the township of Korumburra.
The Ian Hillberg Shield fought for annually between Korumburra and Dalyston and hosted annually by the home team year about, will be contested under lights for the first time.
The four new light towers that ring the Korumburra showground, and the two smaller ones at the adjacent netball court, are the result of much endeavour on the part of many people.
The $307,000 installation took five months from when the first sod was turned and was made possible by a $100,000 State Government grant, $123,000 from the South Gippsland Shire Council and the Korumburra Football/Netball Club contributing the balance.
In turn, the State Government grant was facilitated by the Korumburra Agricultural Show Society having in place a strategic plan.
All involved in the project agree the existence of this strategic plan greatly helped deliver the grant.
The lights atop the new towers are a far cry from those they replace.
Suitable only for training, the old lights cast a maximum 20 lux onto the playing field.
One of those tower’s worn underground cabling was out of action and for some time the tower had been plugged in by way of an extension cord!
Now a total of 40 globes, 2000 watts apiece, produce 200 lux.
The technology is so advanced, focussing light so accurately on the playing surface, that approaching Korumburra at night you are more likely to notice the glow from night lights at the tennis club than those at the football ground.
A major upgrade of the power supply to the ground was needed to make the project possible.
Included in the upgrade are a new transformer outside the ground and a row of wardrobe sized switch cabinets which also house the controls, at the back of the grandstand.
Servicing the 30 metre high lights requires a locally available crane but the globes are rated for 12,000 hours so passers-by are unlikely to see the crane back at the ground for a long time to come.
The lights have three settings: low (50 lux), medium (100 lux) and high (200 lux).
Training is conducted under 50 lux and only the gloomiest mid-winter nights will require the full 200 lux.
Don Olden, the major project co-ordinator, said the project was not just for the benefit of the football/netball club.
“It is a good thing for the Korumburra community,” he said.
Standing tall: from left, Korumburra Football/Netball Club vice-president, Troy Patterson; major project co-ordinator, Don Olden; Matt Walker of Walker Electrical; grants officer at the South Gippsland Shire, Penni Elliot.
The U15s train in the background.
Penny Elliot says the coming to fruition of this project is “a really good example of cooperation between community and local government, working together to bring about a major upgrade to an important community recreational facility.”
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