Sports field renovations schedule

• Project typeSport & recreation
• Project scheduleOngoing

We're running a rolling program of renovations to our sporting fields to keep them in top condition for our residents and visitors.

At times we need to close venues for renovations. To see scheduled closure dates for your local venue, select your sports park from the drop-down list below.

Sporting field closures due to wet weather are managed on our Sports field closures page.

Field renovations

We have an annual renovation program for sports fields and facilities, to ensure the fields are in a safe and useable playing condition. This program usually occurs between September and January, at the end of the winter sporting season when growing conditions are ideal.

The type of renovation work on sports fields can include:

• Coring – mechanical removal of soil core, which is then dragged back across the surface and broken up to top dress the surface. This decompacts and aerates the field.
• Scarification – mechanical thatch removal via a mower with vertical blades. Thins the turf surface and removes old grass. Completed in single or double directions, dependent on conditions and timeframes.
• Topdressing – application of soil or sand to reduce undulations and unevenness of the surface and improve drainage.
• Recycling top dresser (RTD) – pulls soil up from 200 millimetres down in the surface profile and spreads it across the surface behind the machine.
• Verti draining – punches holes with a multiple solid tine aerator, deep into the surface and decompacts the profile as it is removed. Relieves compaction, allowing air, water, and fertiliser to disperse into the soil.
• Resurfacing – uses existing levels and soil conditions. Removes existing turf and re-lays with new turf variety.
• Rebuilding – using a rotary hoe, amends soil conditions and reshapes surface via laser machinery to provide a more consistent, well-drained playing surface.
• Amendment program – application of material to improve the soil and decrease nutritional deficiencies. Applied before renovations begin as most renovation work involves the profile.
• Aeration – decompaction to 200mm depth via a spiking process using an agrivator
• Drag Mat – Drag mat is a mat dragged behind the tractor that pushes the sand into the holes created by the decompaction implement (Verti Drain /Agravator)
• Rebuild – field re-shaped, install appropriate turf species, improved soil, install new/ renew irrigation
• Sand – (T) Tonne