Growers Stadium to light up

Developing Growers Stadium into a recreation hub will be one step closer in May.

Lighting will be installed in the main stadium to widen the scope of events possible at the facility, allowing for a broad range of sporting, cultural and community activities.

Franklin District Council Mayor Mark Ball says the installation of the lights will allow The Steelers to play all of their home games in Pukekohe this season, while opening the stadium up for a multitude of other uses.

“We are looking to develop the Stadium Road, Pukekohe, area as a multi-use recreation hub, based around Growers Stadium, which will cater for rugby, hockey, athletics and other sports and community activities for the district.”

“Franklin District Council will begin installing the lighting in late May, with the project complete in July, just in time to host NPC night games at the stadium. This will encourage more people into the district for games and help boost the local economy, welcome news in the current economic climate.”

“The lighting will allow the stadium to be used for night time events and we look forward to encouraging this facility for a wide range of future activities and additional sporting uses,” he says.

Over the last 18 months Council has upgraded the rugby turf on the main field, and is planning other upgrades to the facility, including the development of another multi-code field in coming years.

The development of the area into a recreation hub in future is highlighted in the draft Franklin District Council Community Plan 2009-19, which is out for public consultation from today.