With the flick of a switch Griffiths Park in Manunda will become the official home of cricket in Far North Queensland.
Mayor Bob Manning will be joined Cairns MP Michael Healy and representatives from the Cairns Cricket Association (CCA) to officially switch on the new lighting tonight ahead of the opening game of the inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash.
The lighting upgrade is part of a larger $5 million upgrade for Griffiths Park (Stage 1), and includes lighting upgrades to field 1 (adjacent to Sportsworld), along with additional parking and upgraded training facilities and landscaping.
Council received State Government funding of $1 million for Stage 1 of the Griffiths Park upgrade under the Active Communities Infrastructure program.
Cricket Queensland has contributed $100,000 to the project.
Council also spent $850,000 for initial planning of the upgrade and the acquisition of new land off Warner St for additional car parking.
The lighting upgrade (Stage 1a of the project), involved the erection of four new light towers, about 41 metres in height, to provide 500 lux lighting for the infield and 300 lux to the outfield. This will ensure the venue's compliance as a Class II facility as specified by the Queensland Cricket Infrastructure Strategy.
