Playing fields receive up-grade to improve their drought tolerance

 

Works have commenced this week to upgrade several of Central Goldfields Shire's key sporting fields to improve their drought tolerance and reduce the volume of water required to maintain them.

The installation of summer season grass Kikuya on the fields will decrease water requirements by 60-80% whilst maintaining healthy grass coverage across the fields.

A requirement of the installation process is that playing fields must have a reliable water source to establish the grass, which means the shire is limited in the number of fields it can upgrade through this project.

The project will benefit the Princes Park Oval, Jubilee Oval, Maryborough Hockey Fields and the Carisbrook Recreation Reserve Senior Oval.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor, Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor, said during the week, "Council is committed to the provision of quality sport and recreation facilities for the community, and the establishment of these summer season grasses is another step forward in drought proofing our playing fields.

"Council has already facilitated the installation of rain water tanks at all its turf cricket wicket facilities, and the latest developments will complement these works with a healthier playing field for the community all year round."

Works were completed on the Jubilee Oval and Carisbrook Recreation Reserve Senior Oval this week, and Princes Park Oval and the Maryborough Hockey Fields will be completed in early January 2009.

Jubilee Oval and the Carisbrook Recreation Reserve Senior Oval were completed through the "Transitional Method" allowing sport to recommence on the playing fields 3 - 4 weeks after installation. 

Princes Park Oval and the Maryborough Hockey Fields will be completed through the "Total Establishment Method" which requires at least 13 weeks where the playing field is decommissioned.  Due to events such as the RACV Energy Breakthrough and the Maryborough Highland Games on Princes Park Oval, these works have been deferred until after 1^st January 2009.

After the Maryborough District Cricket Association's (MDCA) 2007/08 season Council received technical advice from the Turf Grass Association of Australia (TGAA) in relation to the condition of all its turf cricket wickets.  The report established that the turf table at Princes Park Oval needed to be completely replaced to establish it as a "Quality" turf cricket facility.

Princes Park has attracted numerous Premier Cricket Matches, Country Week Cricket Matches, and other representative cricket matches and events in the past, and it is anticipated that with the complete ground surface renovation the facility will be well placed to attract State level cricket matches as well in the future.

The turf cricket wicket table, as per the recommendations provided in the TGAA report, will have Santa Ana Couch grass established on it for the best results in terms of cricket performance.

Whilst Council acknowledges that these works will inconvenience the 2008/09 Cricket Season, the MDCA is supportive of the works and appreciates the benefits these works will bring to cricket in future seasons.

The establishment of drought tolerant grasses on playing fields was a key strategic objective of the Central Goldfields Shire Recreation Strategy 2008 - 2018.

Media contact: Martin Mark, Manager Recreation, Central Goldfields Shire Council, 03 5461 0610