The Clare Valley, nestled in South Australia’s Mid North region, is renowned for its stunning vineyards, exceptional wineries, and picturesque landscapes. This vibrant community has recently undergone a significant transformation, driven by the dedication of local volunteers committed to enhancing public infrastructure.
One major milestone was the Clare Oval Redevelopment Project. Efforts to update the outdated facilities began in 2013, and after years of lobbying and planning, the project finally received the support it needed to move forward in 2019. Situated just south of the Clare town centre, the sports precinct is a vibrant hub of activity, catering to a variety of sports and recreational needs.
The precinct hosts male and female teams for football, netball, cricket, basketball, and tennis. Additionally, it is complemented by the adjoining Valleys Lifestyle Centre, which offers facilities for squash, swimming, and a gym, making it a central part of the Clare community’s sporting and recreational life.
The newly completed hub serves as the home for the South Clare and North Clare Netball Clubs, South Clare and North Clare Football Clubs, and the Clare Combined Cricket Club. This vibrant facility also features a boutique events space, making it a versatile centre for both sports and community events.
Integrated Audio Solutions (IAS) was approached by Senior Project Architect Kristina Sogge from GP Architects to submit a technical proposal along with budgetary pricing guidelines in the early stages of redevelopment planning. Working closely with Kristina and Ryan Tregilgas, the project manager for the Clare Oval Redevelopment Committee, IAS prepared a comprehensive proposal and quotation. This document outlined all technical aspects, including predictions for both outdoor and indoor speaker placement.
The integration commenced under the guidelines of Loi Zanette, project manager for SJM Builders, the main contractors for the project. During the first fix construction phase, IAS conducted site visits to ensure that all A/V integration pre-wires were appropriately laid out and positioned. These tasks were carried out in collaboration with Pink Electrical, the chosen electrical contractor for the project.
The project’s phased approach ensured seamless communication and alignment between all stakeholders, allowing IAS to deliver a robust and efficient audio-visual integration solution tailored to the needs of the Clare Oval Redevelopment.
THE AUDIO SYSTEM . CEILING SPEAKERS
The ceiling audio system comprises eight 8-inch low-impedance speakers, wired in pairs to provide greater audio headroom and a wider bandwidth compared to a traditional 100V line system. These ceiling speakers are performance-matched with an amplifier that delivers outstanding audio quality, exceptional reliability, and secure
operational safety.
THE AUDIO SYSTEM . OUTSIDE SPEAKERS
For the outdoor seated area, two audio zones were created: one on the south side and another servicing the clubroom function space on the north end. A two-way speaker system was selected, featuring an 8-inch (102 mm) low frequecy transducer paired with a 1.25-inch titanium diaphragm high-frequency compression driver.
Due to the extended cable runs required, the system was configured as a high-performance 100V setup to optimise cost-efficiency, with each speaker tapped at its highest wattage setting. Custom beam brackets were designed by IAS and fabricated to securely fasten the speakers to the structure’s vertical beams while complementing the overall aesthetics.
Originally intended to provide sound coverage for the seating area near the boundary for presentations, the system ultimately exceeded expectations, delivering clear, powerful audio well into the centre of the oval and beyond.
Performance-matched to the outdoor speakers is a two-channel series amplifier, delivering outstanding audio performance, exceptional reliability, and secure operational safety.
THE AUDIO SYSTEM . WIRELESS SPEAKERS
The wireless microphone system selected was the latest generation of JTS wireless technology, chosen for its cost-effectiveness and exceptional performance.
Comprehensive RF tests were conducted on the receiver and handheld transmitter unit at our warehouse prior to acceptance. The performance proved to be outstanding in both RF (penetrating block walls) and audio quality.
The JTS R-4 is a four-channel system supplied with two wireless handheld transmitters, leaving the remaining two channels available for future expansion. Additional consideration was given to the system design for outdoor use, particularly for presentations at the edge of the oval. Remote outdoor antennas, connected in parallel via the JTS combiner, significantly enhanced transmission for the outdoor area. This setup exceeded RF performance expectations, providing excellent coverage to the centre of the oval and beyond, while maintaining outstanding
sound quality.
AUDIO MATRIX . SIGNAL PROCESSOR
At the core of the audio control system is a 26 x 8 matrix mixer and signal processor, ideally suited to the multi-zone audio requirements of Clare Sports Club. It features eight mono mic/line inputs, two stereo inputs, and a front-panel SD card slot for convenient playback of MP3 and WAV files.
AUDIO SYSTEM CONTROL . MATRIX SIGNAL PROCESSOR
The control system is designed as a dual-mode solution for user-friendly operation. It features Digital Control Panels (DCP) that provide simple and intuitive control over the audio system. Wireless microphones and background music are programmed and routed to the outdoor zones, while the vision switcher audio and wireless microphones serve the interior areas of the club.
A second control mode is available via a wireless software app, enabling operation from tablets or smartphones (Android or iPhone). This app connects through a local network wireless router and replicates the functionality of the wired DCP panels, while also offering password-protected access levels—from basic coordinator to advanced operator—for added flexibility and security.
THE VISION SYSTEM . MATRIX SWITCHER
The WyreStorm 4K 4×4 HDBaseT matrix switcher was chosen as cost effective high-performance system, offering transmission of 18Gbps HDMI content up to 35m/115ft by pairing HDBaseT with WyreStorm’s powerful lossless compression algorithm.The MX-0404-KIT has 3 HDBaseT zone outputs with PoH and a single switched HDMI output which can be paired with WyreStorm’s HAOC hybrid optical HDMI cables or any extender for transmission via HDBaseT or OM3 fibre.
THE VISION SYSTEM . VIDEO PROJECTOR
The fixed-lens laser projector, featuring 3-chip LCD image quality, proved to be the perfect solution for the club’s corporate events and sporting functions.
