Project case study:
BARTON PARK
Banksia, NSW
Gweagal, Bidjigal and Gadigal clans of the Eora Nation
The Barton Park Recreational Precinct Upgrade was a $51.7 million project delivered between September 2022 and April 2024, officially opening in May 2024.
Located in Banksia, NSW, the project transformed a former landfill and ageing sports facility into Bayside Council’s largest sporting and recreation hub.
The upgraded precinct incorporates FIFA‑grade playing fields, courts, a grandstand, shared paths, parking, and extensive lighting infrastructure. Lighting and public safety infrastructure were critical to supporting current and future night‑time sporting use, while improving CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) outcomes. Design considerations included minimising light spill due to proximity to Sydney Airport and the surrounding environmentally sensitive wetlands.
WHY GM POLES:
GM Poles is an Australian owned and locally operated manufacturer with extensive experience in the design and supply of sports lighting infrastructure, supported by
in-house engineering and detailing capability.
For the Barton Park upgrade, GM Poles worked closely with the project designers to develop a site-specific lighting solution that responded to the project’s structural,
lighting and public asset requirements. This included the design and documentation
of a specialised cantilevered pole top configuration, engineered to safely support the nominated luminaires while meeting performance and compliance obligations.
By integrating pole geometry, connection detailing and mounting arrangements within a single, coordinated engineering scope, GM Poles delivered a reliable and fit-for-purpose outcome suited to a high use public environment.
Sector
Sports
Pole Types
Tapered Polyagonal
Pole Heights
18m, 16m, 15m, 10m
Partners
Asset Owner: Bayside Council
Architect: MODE Design
Principal Contractor: Ford Civil Contracting
Electrical Contractor: Sublime Electrical
Electrical Wholesaler: John R Turk Artatmon
Lighting Design: Cundall
DESIGN NARRATIVE
Challenge
The Barton Park upgrade presented complex design challenges including environmental constraints, aviation regulations, performance standards, community amenity and safety requirements, ground instability, flood risk and areas of contaminated soil.
The project aimed to transform a large sports and recreation site into a multi‑use community precinct, requiring lighting that enhances safety along paths and facilities, improves night‑time usability, and supports flexible use across courts, shared paths and open spaces.
Solution
GM Poles supplied tapered polygonal steel poles at specified mounting heights, including a customised cantilever top configuration designed to respond to lighting design and public amenity constraints.
Crossarms and adaptors were provided to suit the nominated luminaires, with provisions included for lower crossarms to support speakers and camera mounts where required. A hot‑dip galvanised finish was specified to support durability in a public outdoor environment.
Result
The completed upgrade has delivered a significant sporting and recreational precinct for the Bayside community, supporting increased usability and improved night‑time amenity.
The upgraded lighting contributes to safer access, improved functionality across and around the precinct, and the provision of an illuminated competitive sporting venue. The outcome aligns with Bayside Council’s objectives for accessibility, community use, and long‑term public asset performance.
Barton Park Images
GM Poles is proud to have supplied the lighting structures that bring the Barton Park Sports Precinct to life. These images showcase the quality, scale, and performance of our poles across the stadium, fields, and community spaces.
