Lighting Update: Enhancing Our Tennis Court Illumination.

We have all noticed that our court lighting requires urgent attention. The committee would like to provide you with an update on the current state of our plans to improve the lighting situation and ensure optimal visibility during your games at night.

As the industry moves away from metal halide lamps, it has become increasingly challenging to find replacement bulbs for our current light fittings. Additionally, the control gear inside the poles has reached the end of its life, further necessitating the need for an upgrade.

To address this issue, the club committee is actively working towards a solution. Our goal is to replace all of our lights with modern, efficient LED lighting while maintaining the same level of illumination we currently enjoy on courts 1-4 and extending it to the upper bay as well. It's worth noting that the lighting intensity we experience when all lamps are operational significantly exceeds the minimum standards set by the ITF for clubs. This puts us on par with the levels typically employed in non-televised international events, which we believe befits our status as New Zealand's premier tennis club.

This is a significant undertaking, both in terms of cost and long-term impact. However, a quality LED installation should serve the club for the next 20+ years, making it imperative to make the right decision for our future. We have already received three quotes for the upgrade, and the total cost for all eight courts is estimated to be around $200,000. We are pleased to share that we have received donations totalling $80,000 towards the lighting project, and we have also been awarded a $15,000 grant from TAB NZ. Additionally, we have submitted an application to the Lion Foundation for an additional grant and are awaiting their response.

Our hope is that a significant grant from the Lion Foundation will allow us to replace the lights on all eight courts. However, in the event that no new funding is secured, we are considering an alternative approach. We would initially replace the lights on four courts, enabling us to repurpose some of the existing lamps on the remaining four courts. This phased approach will provide us with sufficient time to raise the necessary funds to complete the LED lighting upgrade on the remaining courts. We are also exploring other fundraising methods within the club to support this project.

In the meantime, we understand that some courts, particularly court 4 and court 6, are not as well-lit as we would all prefer. As a temporary measure, we have arranged for a contractor and a "cherry-picker" to do our best to improve the lighting situation on those specific courts.  We aim to minimize expenditure on the existing lighting to allocate as many resources as possible to the upcoming LED upgrade. Given the lead-times associated with obtaining high-intensity LED fixtures (typically 12-16 weeks), we anticipate executing the project towards the end of the year. Fortunately, with the days getting longer, we ask for your patience and understanding during this interim period before the exciting lighting project is completed.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we work towards enhancing your tennis experience at PLTC. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Feleti or the Committee. We will ensure to keep you updated on the progress of the lighting upgrade and any developments related to the project.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and continued dedication to our club.

Article added: Tuesday 18 July 2023