Sports venues: Lights heading north

Lights from mothballed Carisbrook will be installed at Canterbury rugby's new temporary home.

It was yesterday confirmed the Carisbrook lights were heading north to Christchurch's Rugby League Park, to allow major rugby games to return to the earthquake-damaged city.

The Delta-owned lights have been sold to the Christchurch City Council to enable night rugby to be played at the redeveloped $20 million Rugby League Park in Addington.

Christchurch's main sports ground, AMI Stadium, was closed following the Canterbury earthquakes. It is hoped the new ground will be completed in time for the Crusaders' first home game in the 2012 Super 15.

Delta chief executive Grady Cameron said the four 48m-tall lights, installed in 1998, became surplus to requirements when Carisbrook was usurped by Dunedin's new covered stadium.

"The timing has worked out well for both Christchurch City Council and Delta. We're delighted that the lights have found a new home in Christchurch for the benefit of Canterbury rugby and sporting fans.

"These lights will play a small but significant part in helping the city get back on its feet."

Over the next week, the four lighting towers will be disconnected and progressively dismantled using a 100-tonne crane before being transported in sections to Christchurch.

The towers are made of galvanised steel tube. Each pole tapers from 1.5m diameter at the base to 45cm at the top.

The towers support a total of 222 lights on head frames 6m wide and 3.5m high.