Keeping Liverpool Green Q&A WITH DAMIEN CURTIS - PARKS COORDINATOR EAST Damien Curtis has been working in the turf maintenance industry for 28 years. Mr Curtis started in 1992 at Concord Council where he developed a wealth of experience over 7 years. From there, Mr Curtis continued his career over in the sports turf maintenance sector, before returning to council facilities in his current position at Liverpool Council.
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Business Owner, Better Turf Solutions - Spraying Contractor for the Catholic Diocese and local government / Turf cricket wicket contractor / Landscape projects - 2 years
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The Kings School - Head Curator 3.5 years
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Landscape Solutions - Sports Turf Account Manager - 2 years
What is your background and experience within the turf industry?
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Turf Maintenance Manager ANZ Stadium - 2 years
I started in 1992 at Concord Council as a ground’s person on turf wickets. I worked on all wickets in council, including those that hosted 1st grade and state ING cup games at Drummoyne Oval for 7 years.
What is your current position and what facilities do you manage?
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Team Leader golf courses Massey Park /Barnwell Park as an assistant to Craig Malloy (Cypress Lakes Superintendent) for 3 years, before becoming coordinator for 2 years in green keeping services.
I have been in my current position as Parks Coordinator East since January this year, at my commencement we were right at the back end of a 3-year drought. We have 105 hectares of sporting fields, 42 hectares with poor quality turf due to the drought and no turf manager programming for over 12 months.
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Grounds Coordinator - Macquarie University - 2 years
We had rain come in February at near record levels and we could not cut for 3 weeks due to the fields being too wet.
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Head Green keeper Port Macquarie Panthers Bowling Club - sea change to raise a young family - 6.5 years
What changes have been made to the turf maintenance practices at Liverpool City Council?
I implemented an Integrated Pest Strategy to combat pest, weeds, and disease. This strategy involved the use of preemergent herbicides, along with the use of environmentally friendly pest control products, such as Acelepryn, which are applied to all fields. •
We use Amazone machines to collect grass clippings off fields, so we reduced the potential for pests and disease to flourish. We also started foliar fertiliser applications where we are getting great results with contact to plant, without the clippings impeding.
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The implementation of broad leaf weed eradication program to over 300 hectares of open space turf areas. With the floods, Khaki weed became a huge issue in our passive high-profile areas as well as surrounds to sporting fields.
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We were also experiencing a growth rate exceeding our ability to maintain, so I also implemented that application of growth regulators used on a 3-week cycle. The use of growth regulators on edges and on hard to maintain surfaces such as steep banks, culverts, and highway footpaths, has been particularly beneficial.
KEEPING LIVERPOOL GREEN / 5
