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A $4 million commitment from the Queensland Government will see the first stage of Cairns’ Barlow Park 2032 Olympic Games upgrade include high-quality LED lighting needed to nationally broadcast NRL football.

The upgrade will transition Barlow Park’s existing 500 lux lighting to 1800 lux broadcast TV standard.

Proposed Barlow Park Olympic enhancements will be designed to maximise game-day experiences and position Cairns for pre-Games training, more athletics carnivals and NRL premiership matches.

Olympic upgrades proposed for Barlow Park also include new seating for 5,000, optimised amenities and other enhancements to ensure the venue is Games-ready.     

Local State Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy advised “the new LED lighting will help put Cairns and Barlow Park on the NRL’s radar for quality night-time premiership games.

“In a tropical climate like the Far North’s, night-time games are cooler and more comfortable for elite athletes and spectators.

“We know once installed, new lighting will position Cairns to host more world-class sporting events from NRL to athletics and training camps.

“More high-quality sport broadcast live from Cairns to the nation has great potential to kick goals for growing and diversifying our visitor economy.”

Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, Stirling Hinchliffe said broadcast lighting was an early 2032 Games legacy project.

“This is the first instalment in a larger proposed upgrade of Barlow Park for the 2032 Games,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

“Queensland’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid included Barlow Park as a proposed venue for preliminary Olympic football matches.

“Barlow Park was accepted under the International Olympic Committee’s ‘new norm’ for the sustainability and affordability of future Games.

“More than 84% of the venues we’ll need for the Brisbane 2032 Games are existing - like Barlow Park - or will be temporary.

“An upgraded Barlow Park is an important legacy we want to achieve from our decade-long green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032.”

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning welcomed the funding for new lights and added “meeting broadcasting standards provides more opportunities to chase premier sporting fixtures and adds to the city’s growing reputation as a major events destination.

“Every time we hold such events, it provides a boost to the local economy and is another chance to showcase our city and its many attributes across the State, the nation and the globe..”

NRL Chief EXecutive Andrew Abdo said Cairns was part of rugby league heartland with passionate fans traveling from far and wide for NRL Premiership and preseason games. 

“The planned upgrades, which include broadcast quality lights, will help Cairns secure more rugby league matches in the future,” Abdo said.

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