Extended Hours of Lighting for Connell Park Netball Courts

Published on 13 December 2024

Bellingen Shire Council is pleased to announce extended lighting hours for the newly upgraded multi-purpose hardcourts at Connell Park throughout the upcoming school holidays.

From this week, the lights will be available until 10pm, offering an exciting opportunity for extended evening games and community activities.

Previously, the lights were available up until 9pm, however with school holidays fast approaching, it is anticipated that more community members will be looking to utilise the facility. The lighting is available through a switch at the court, which allows users 30-minute blocks of lighting.

This enhancement follows the completion of Stage 1 of the Connell Park Precinct Project in May 2024, which saw the transformation of grass netball courts into state-of-the-art hard courts, complete with the competition-grade lighting. 

The upgrade has been embraced by residents, and the additional lighting hours further reinforce Council’s efforts to promote safe and inclusive recreational opportunities for the community. By further extending these hours at the accessible facility, Council aims to encourage health, wellbeing, and social cohesion

“We’re delighted to extend the use of the multi-purpose hardcourts into the evenings,” said Mayor Cr. Steve Allan. “This decision reflects Council’s focus on creating inclusive, accessible, and safe spaces for recreation, and we’re proud to support our local sporting groups and families in this way.”

While Stage 1 is already complete, the remaining works are scheduled as follows:

• Stage 2: Field drainage, surface improvements, and lighting installation (October 2024 – June 2025).

• Stage 3: New amenity buildings (Early 2025 – Late 2025).

The fields at Connell Park are currently closed for Stage 2 of works, but the extended lighting hours ensure the community can still enjoy the benefits of the new netball courts while eagerly anticipating the completion of the precinct’s transformation.

Bellingen Shire Council is committed to working closely with stakeholders to deliver this project efficiently and sustainably, ensuring Connell Park becomes a vibrant hub for sports, recreation, and community connection.

For further updates on this project, please visit the Connell Park Precinct Development webpage