SPORTSGROUNDS SPORTSGROUNDS
Maitland made
Maitland City Council’s Brian Worboys and Keith McPhee write about the major redevelopment of Maitland No.1 Sportsground which was christened in February with an NRL trial match between
Parramatta and Newcastle. Above: Maitland No.1 Sportsground looking a picture ahead of February’s NRL trial match. The $600,000 project to resurface the ground was part of an $8.6 million overhaul of the entire complex 38
M
aitland No. 1 Sportsground was first developed in 1932 on the site of the old path of the Hunter River that changed course in the late 19th Century. The project was part of a publicly funded work creation scheme and over the decades has been a centrepiece for the local community. The ground has predominantly been home to the local rugby league team, the Maitland Pickers, but it has also hosted a number of community events throughout its 80-year history including the Crusty Demons, numerous concerts and even the World Series Cricket Country Cup in 1978. In February 2014, the NSW Government committed to a jointly funded project with Maitland City Council to redevelop the sportsground and construct a new 1100-seat grandstand. The total cost of the project was $8.6 million, with the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund contributing $5.6 million towards its completion. Before the project started, council staff completed some preliminary investigations into the site. Soil analysis suggested that the existing soil type was a clayey silty loam. It was always known by
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 20.2
staff that this field was one of the first to be playable after any significant rainfall. Field tests indicated the infiltration rate was around 12mm/hr and soil pH high. The geologist’s log from the installation of the bore pump in 1979 stated that topsoil existed for four metres down the profile, another 3m of sand, then 3.2m of gravel. So, although infiltration rate was slow, the topsoil profile was large enough for water to continue through the profile. The problem was that the top 300mm of soil was contaminated with thatch build up, while bicarbonates and iron levels were extremely elevated due to the quality of the bore water applied for irrigation over a number of years. An acid injection system was contemplated at the time, but was not feasible for the site.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS North Construction was awarded the contract for the project which included the demolition of the three old grandstands on 9 June 2016, before the rebuild of the new grandstand started on 27 June 2016. The majority of the project funding was prioritised for the construction of the grandstand, with just over $600,000 allocated for the actual playing surface. Following the demolition and major construction works of the grandstand, establishment works to the playing surface started on 1 December 2016. Council managed the supply and installation of the turf, while the irrigation for the field was installed by a subcontractor of North Construction. It was decided that to make the project more viable, a two-stage