Lighting improvements at Hickling Park
The playing environment on the lower field of Hickling Park has improved this week with the installation of new LED lighting to illuminate the field after dusk.
The field is currently home to a touch club and a rugby league club, both of which train in the evenings.
New and improved lighting was requested by the rugby league club Taupo Phoenix through the Long-term Plan process and was approved by the council.
Previous lighting consisted of three eight-metre-high poles with six dated and less efficient lights that provided patchy, insufficient lighting for after-dark activities.
The new lighting will involve three 12-metre-high poles, and will provide 12 flood lights to give better coverage of the field.
Facilities officer Darren Penketh said the new lighting would be more cost effective and easier to maintain.
“LED lights last about 12 years and provide great coverage,” he said. “It’s important we continue to upgrade the facilities our community is using and this is one way we can do that.”
The new LED lighting cost just under $30,000 and was installed earlier this week.