McKellar Park left in the dark after light pollution complaints

Details of the complaints and the Belconnen Soccer Club's response have been revealed after a report was released under Freedom of Information laws.

The report says two nearby residents to McKellar Park raised concerns about increased luminosity and light spillage following a W-League match last year.

The Belconnen Soccer Club, which owns of McKellar Park, was warned by the ACT government about the light pollution complaints and told Environment Protection Officers would attend to investigate if there were further complaints.

However, the EPA did not enforce a ban. The Belconnen Soccer Club instead chose to turn the lights off at the main switch.

"We estimate they are at least 4 (sic) times brighter and the light spillage is penetrating across McKellar," one of the initial complaints said of the lights.

"Whilst looking in that direction from our outdoor entertainment area, the lights are extremely glaring!

"...Note the picture was taken of the BSC lights from our home some 500m from the club. There are many other residents living closer who will also be affected ... Could this please be investigated? Is this level of lighting compliant with ACT regulations?"

The EPA began working with the Belconnen Soccer Club earlier this year to find options to reduce the effects of the lighting on nearby homes.

According to the report, Belconnen Soccer Club chief executive Geoff Long said the lighting issue arose after they had been cleaned for the W-League fixture.

Emails between government departments say the Belconnen Soccer Club determined the lights had an "unreasonable impact" on residents and turned the lights off at the main power point.

The McKellar lights were upgraded for Canberra United's W-League match against the Brisbane Roar. The league's television broadcaster wanted the game played under lights to capitalise on a prime-time television audience.

Capital Football worked with Belconnen Soccer Club to replace and clean existing light globes because the lighting standard did not meet the minimum criteria for broadcast matches.

They also brought in additional lights on cranes to meet the broadcasting requirements. These were taken down straight away.

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The other complainant raised concerns about potential glare from the lights on William Slim Drive.

The lights were re-directed from their original position and the club is working with an electrician to adjust them.

Canberra premier league side Belconnen United has since been unable to use the facility for training. The men's and women's sides previously trained at McKellar Park on a Thursday evening.

But the club has been forced to move training to the AIS and rent multiple fields throughout the week.

Capital Football has struggled to provide enough fields to cater for the sport's growth in recent years. Chief executive Phil Brown hoped a resolution could be reached to have McKellar used at night.

"The facilities at [McKellar Park] are among the best in the ACT," Brown said.

"It's disappointing they can't use the lights to play community sport at night.

"Belconnen Soccer Club should be able to use lights and play night matches for Belconnen United and Canberra United. We're fully supportive."

The decision to turn off the lights added confusion to a match between the Blue Devils and Gungahlin United after their premier league game was abandoned on last weekend.

Gungahlin led two-nil after 18 minutes before Belconnen's Christian Pratezina broke his leg and caused play to stop.

Pratezina was tended to by officials from both clubs during a near-half hour wait for an ambulance, at which point he was moved into a vehicle and taken to hospital.

The lengthy delay would have forced the game to be finished under lights but referees decided it was too late to continue in fear of more complaints from nearby residents.

It's understood a Blue Devils member explained the situation to the licensed club in a bid to continue the match under lights, but the staff declined. The match will be replayed from the 18th minute at a later date.