BY LAWN SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA | DEC 2018
Zoysia’s ain’t Zoysia’s No two Zoysia’s are the same. Deciding which to use for a project can play a huge part in its success. ... Read more [pg 06]
MORE TURFTALK INSIDE ›
Flemington Reconstruction
AILA SA Exploring the Future of Turf
New Sports Turf Management Degree / 1
... Read more [pg 02]
... Read more [pg 13]
... Read more [pg 17]
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Welcome to TurfTalk, Australia’s newest and most comprehensive turf magazine. TurfTalk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations. TurfTalk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, the exciting developments in turf research and development and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf. TurfTalk is a free quarterly magazine and distributed to over 3000 landscape and turf professionals. TurfTalk is published by Lawn Solutions Australia. Editorial: Nathan Edwards nathan@lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au Joe Rogers joe@lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au Art Direction & Design: Paul Coratella paul@lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au Merridy Ison merridy@ lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au
Flemington Racecourse
Inside this issue FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE RECONSTRUCTION
PG 02
NEW SOFTWARE FROM MICLUB
PG 28
ZOYSIA’S AIN’T ZOYSIA’S
PG 06
ADAMA AUSTRALIA PARTNERSHIP
PG 30
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW PG 08
1ST PRODUCTS AGRIVATOR
PG 31
GREEN THE STREET AT THE EKKA 2018
PG 10
TURF TRIALS BY MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC
PG 32
AILA SA EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF TURF
PG 13
INFINICUT BY CLUB CADET
PG 34
NEW PLAYGROUND FOR ST COLUMBKILLE’S PS
PG 14
NATSPEC UPDATES
PG 36
HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER
PG 16
WA LAWN EXPO 2018
PG 38
NEW SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT DEGREE
PG 17
GLADSTONE EAST SHORES PRECINCT
PG 40
LAWNFEST 2018
PG 18
THE TEMPORARY PITCH REVOLUTION
PG 42
EUROPEAN TOUR
PG 20
SOUTHBANK BRISBANE
PG 46
HIA GREENSMART AWARDS
PG 26
TPI CONFERENCE
PG 48
W ELCOME TO TURF TAL K// 31
Great turf, for the great race FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE RECONSTRUCTION Words by Bruce Stephens, Anco Seed and Turf Pty Ltd.
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In November 2006 following the running of the 145th Melbourne Cup, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) began work on its first major track reconstruction since 1859. To understand the enormity of the project and the reasoning behind it we have to go back in history. In May 1974, 350mm of rain fell on the Maribyrnong River catchment area over a fourty eight-hour period. The Maribyrnong River flows alongside the Flemington Racecourse and broke its banks inundating the entire Racecourse and forcing the evacuation of 200 Racehorses stabled there and in training. The track was also flooded in November 1887 and again in 1906 and the river has broken its banks eight times since the 1974 flood. The Cup Carnival at the time of the 2006 redevelopment had an economic benefit in excess of $200 million and the threat of a flood jeopardizing that
was a key factor of the planning for the redevelopment. A 2km floodwall was part of the overall refurbishment to safeguard the track and to ensure the Carnival would proceed without threat of a flood. Fast-forward to 2017 and the Cup carnival had a gross economic benefit of $444.5 million to the State of Victoria and Australia. Little wonder the Floodwall was a key component in the overall redevelopment plan and the future of Flemington. Once the 2006 Cup Carnival was over, works commenced on constructing the new track. The old track was stripped down to a depth of 500mm. A new base was created by using some of the old tracks sand along with a combination of lime and cement to provide a firm base. Drains were installed and a 100mm drainage layer added. More
F LEMIN GTON RE CON STRUC TIONďťż/ 5 3
Work on the track begins
than 25 km of agricultural drains run across the track and these feed into a drain that has a pumped storm water system attached. The drainage system ensures racing can continue in any weather. On top of the drainage layer, 37,500 cubic metres of sand were added to deliver a 300mm deep growing medium profile. The sand was delivered in batches and each batch was tested for drainage rate, particle size, shape and sphericity. Thirty per cent of batches were rejected and the 160mm drainage rate was achieved across all sections of the track. The VRC provided the specification for the sand with the key emphasis on drainage and stability. Anco Turf were engaged to deliver and incorporate amendments to the sand profile as specified by Turfgrass Technology who were engaged by the VRC as their Agronomic consultants. The growing medium was consolidated and leveled prior to the addition of amendments that included composted poultry manure, Dolomite lime, Gypsum, Magnesium Sulphate, Trace elements and a NPK fertiliser. These were incorporated into the top 100mm of the profile due to the sands raw nature and the surface was again rolled prior to laying turf. The turfing stage of the reconstruction was planned and a contract awarded to Anco to grow the turf as far back as 2002. The contract also included a four-week clause to maintain the turf after laying. The turf was grown on free draining native sand that
4 6 / ďťżF ďťż LE M I NGTO N R E CO N ST R U C T I ON
was tested for drainage and particle size distribution at Anco’s Torquay farm prior to awarding of the contract. The paddocks were fumigated prior to planting. Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) overseeded with a blend of three Perennial ryegrasses (Lolium perenne) and Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) were the species specification for the turf. The Oversowing timing of the Kikuyu with Ryegrass and Kentucky Bluegrass was critical to ensure the three grass species were in balance at the time of harvest. The delay in the track construction caused by a hold up in the granting of a permit to build the floodwall meant the paddocks had to be maintained for longer than originally thought. Once the go ahead was given in August 2006, Anco ran its Field Topmaker over the paddocks to remove any thatch and vegetative material that had accumulated. This left a surface with Kikuyu stolons and rhizomes still present prior to the overseeding process with the Bluegrass and Ryegrass seed. Overseeding took place once the Kikuyu had recovered. Monitoring for disease and nematodes was constantly conducted during the entire growing period. In total 124,000 square metres of turf was laid on the track. The first stage of laying consisted of a 36,000-m2 section that was hand laid in four days with conventional 1m2 rolls of turf. The track was built in stages and once each stage was completed handed over to Anco for amendment incorporation and turf laying. The laying commenced
The final touches
on February 14 and was completed on March 19. Up to 10,000m2 was laid per day. Turfing could not commence until 8.30am as trackwork on the inside tracks continued throughout the laying period and all horses had to have vacated the training track prior to commencement of laying on the newly constructed surface. Deliveries of fresh turf were between 8.30am and 3pm to fit in with trackwork. During the laying period the temperature exceeded 30° Celsius on several occasions. Turf was harvested late in the afternoon and evening for the morning laying sections. Morning harvests were delivered by lunchtime for the afternoon laying shift. The harvest timing minimized the turf loss ratio despite high temperatures. Temporary irrigation was installed post laying using 50mm aluminium piping transported from the Torquay farm. Three rows of irrigation piping were installed around the track with a total of over 10km in lineal metreage circumnavigating the track. The temporary irrigation provided a uniform delivery of irrigation to all parts of the track even during high winds. The piping system was manual and required constant monitoring by the Anco staff. One application of a High N fertiliser was applied to each section of track and one mow was conducted prior to handover to the VRC, which was done in stages. Following the complete handover of the track back to the VRC by Anco, Flemington’s Upton irrigator was used as the main irrigation source. A turf nursery off the track was constructed using the same sand profile as the track
and this was also turfed. Any turf plug replacements for large divots are taken from this nursery to ensure track uniformity. Since construction the uniformity of the track soil profile, drainage layer and turf composition has allowed one fertility program to be used for the entire track. In addition to the track, other works included a 180 metre tunnel to give horses trouble free access from the Stalls to the Mounting Yard, 5 Star Horse Stalls with Digital Identification of each horse and its Jockey and Trainer, and a two hectare Kikuyu Public Lawn. That lawn took the total amount of turf delivered to Flemington by Anco for the reconstruction project to 150 thousand square metres. More recently Anco have custom grown turf for the new Mounting yard and Members lawn following the construction of a new Members Stand that will see its first Spring Carnival this year. The Mounting yard is Nullarbor Couch oversown with SL4660ST Turf Type Ryegrass. The two grasses were selected to provide a tight surface that would be capable of displaying a striped mowing pattern in the Mounting Yard and look good year round including a Melbourne winter. The decision by the VRC to embark on such a monumental project has paid dividends with the track rated as one of the Worlds best. The 2019 Melbourne Cup will be the 12th running of the event on the new track.
F LE MIN GTON RECON STRUC T ION / 7 5
Zoysia’s ain’t Zoysia’s NO TWO ZOYSIA’S ARE THE SAME. DECIDING WHICH TO USE FOR A PROJECT CAN PLAY A HUGE PART IN ITS SUCCESS.
Zoysia is a popular choice for Golf Courses.
With a number of new zoysia’s recently hitting the marketplace, there is a misconception that every variety of zoysia is the same or similar. Zoysia as a turf grass type has several different sub-genus, all of which carry very different characteristics and aesthetics to the next. Whilst they still do carry the zoysia name botanically in a lot of marketing material, it is important to understand the difference when specifying or using a zoysia in a project. Zoysia Macrantha Zoysia Macrantha’s are the only zoysia which are considered Australian natives and are commonly referred to as prickly couch. Some examples of Zoysia Macrantha which
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are available on the Australian market are Nara Native Zoysia and Stockade Native. Zoysia Macrantha generally performs better in the warmer climates of Australia and in full sun areas. Macrantha’s leaf shape and colour varies depending on the variety but are medium to coarse and light green in colour. The wear tolerance and shade tolerance of Zoysia Macrantha’s are inferior to the other types of zoysia. Zoysia Japonica Zoysia Japonica originates and is native to the coastal grasslands of South East Asia. Japonica’s have been introduced and used as a popular choice for home lawns and public areas around the world. The common types of Zoysia Japonica which are available around Australia are Empire Zoysia
“If you are choosing Zoysia grass for your next project, make sure you are aware of the different subgenus, so you know you are getting the product you desire.”
And is a popular choice for homes.
and Platinum Zoysia. Zoysia Japonica’s have a medium leaf texture, fair shade and wear tolerance and again are more suited to the warmer climates of Australia. Zoysia Japonica’s will struggle through the colder months in southern areas of Australia. Zoysia Matrella Zoysia Matrella’s, like Japonica’s are native to South East Asia. Unlike their Japonica counterparts, Zoysia Matrella’s have a very fine leaf and have high shade tolerance. Until just recently, Zoysia Matrella’s were primarily used in golf but now their qualities have proven they are perfect for home lawns and commercial applications. They require less mowing, less fertiliser, less water and have higher density then the other zoysia’s. Zoysia Matrella’s that are on the Australian
market include Sir Grange and Shadetuff. Zoysia Matrella can be successfully installed all around Australia and make for a fantastic lawn both domestically and commercially. Zoysia grasses are quickly becoming the preferred choice for lawns in the US, South America and Asia and are making a name for themselves in Australia as well. If you are choosing Zoysia grass for your next project, make sure you are aware of the different sub-genus, so you know you are getting the product you desire.
ZOYSIA’S A IN ’T ZOYSIA’ S / 9 7
Show garden from 2018
Performer at the show 2018
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticulture event attracting over 100,000 people from all over Australia and the world, over 5 days.
medal at The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show has been won by many famous Australian garden designers including Jason Hodges from Better Homes & Gardens.
The show is considered to be one of the top 5 flower and garden shows in the world right up there with the Philadelphia Flower & Garden Show and the worldfamous Chelsea Flower Show. At the end of March every year, the show lights-up Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne and attracts the best designers, florists and nursery commentators from around the globe.
Every year The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is supported by key industry bodies including NGIV, Landscaping Victoria, Flowers Victoria and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to name a few. The Victorian Government see the show as a key tourist attraction and event and promote it widely throughout Victoria and Australia. Over the next 2 years, the show will welcome a new presenting partner to the show, Lawn Solutions Australia. Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) has been exhibiting at the show and helping with the construction of other gardens for over 10 years. LSA see’s The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show as a key event for lawns, promoting the Aussie backyard and gardens in general. Lawn Solutions Australia Director Gavin Rogers says “It is a fantastic event
The Show Gardens are clearly the highlight of this great event, and every year the gardens that stand out the most win the prestigious Gold Medal for design which grants them the opportunity to showcase their skills at the aforementioned Chelsea Flower Show which is the pinnacle for Garden Shows around the world. This is a massive achievement, and the gold
8 10/ /ME L B O UR NE I N T E R N AT I O N A L F LOW E R A N D GA RDE N SHOW
for our industry and holds huge relevance for garden lovers all over Australia. We see this show as the perfect opportunity to highlight the benefits and importance of lawns. They are essential to the health of our environment and ourselves, and the show showcases this better than anything.” Lawn Solutions Australia ambassador and previous The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show gold medal winner Jason Hodges will be designing and constructing a garden this year. This will run alongside the Lawn Solutions Australia display garden which will be showcasing brand new turf varieties for you to see and touch and get first-hand information on the benefits of these new products. The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is a fantastic event for outdoor lovers from all over Australia and is something everyone should see at least once! For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.melbflowershow.com.au.
//11 9
Green the Street at the EKKA VISITORS ENJOYED A SIR GRANGE LINED WONDERLAND.
Sir Grange lining the streets of the EKKA
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Sir Grange lining the streets of the EKKA
The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland, Australia. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show and it is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition; however, it is more commonly known as the Ekka, which is a shortening of the word exhibition. Green the Street is an interactive installation that took place at this year’s EKKA which reimagines Brisbane’s street of tomorrow as a biophilic green street (a street that celebrates nature and people over cars). 70m of Gregory Terrace was taken over by large shading trees, turf, shrub planting and new technologies; allowing visitors to the EKKA an opportunity to reimagine how they want their own streets to function. With an ever-increasing population, the advent of new types of vehicles and a move towards humanistic cities where health
is supported; this activation proposes changing how our streets work, by taking away the asphalt to allow for more bikes, more people and more health enhancing landscapes in our streets. Green the Street featured several innovative sections including a VR hub where visitors could see Gregory Terrace 30 years in the future as a ‘linear parkway’; connecting the Old Museum to Victoria Park. Visitors were also able to walk through an urban forest surrounded by greenery with hanging air plants overhead, a healthy minds/healthy city ‘chill-out spot’, electric bike hub and a future focussed urban agriculture zone. Visitors were also treated to an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ kind of street, reimagining and testing what Brisbane Streets could and should be. As well an urban agriculture hub with honey bees, native bees, orchard trees, vege pods, vertical gardens and a city farm.
A VR Hub wxperience took visitors on a journey of the area in the 1770s.
GRE E N THE STREET // 13 11
“Visitors were also treated to an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ kind of street, reimagining and testing what Brisbane Streets could and should be.”
Jimboomba Turf Supplies delivered and installed 80m² of Sir Grange Turfgrass. Jimboomba jumped at the opportunity to highlight the durability and luxurious feel of Sir Grange. Sir Grange easily withstood the high volume traffic over the nine days of EKKA. The street was designed collaboratively between Roberts Day, Define Landscape and the RNA Committee. Green the Street at the EKKA was a great success and hosted thousands of visitors. The event ran from the 10th of August to the 19th of August.
Sir Grange lining the streets of the EKKA
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Exploring the Future of Turf On Wednesday 19th September, approximately 15 members of AILA (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) SA, attended an innovative information session with presentations made by The Turf Farm and JPE Design Studio. This information session was highly engaging with a great deal of discussion surrounding promising advancements in turf research and the introduction of new turf varieties that will change the way turf is used in landscape design. Tracey Daniel presented the background history and specification benefits for new turf varieties TifTuf & Sir Grange, and Chloe Hardie spoke about the capabilities and uses of both varieties and how their capabilities have reduced the barriers to using turf on particular landscape design projects. Lawn is often the final touch in a design and can make or break a great project. Specifying the right variety for long-term results is vital and science has now enabled us to utilise lawn in more applications with practical, environmental and economic benefits. What has science got to do with grass? The Turf industry has just entered a new era. We have had varieties like Kikuyu and Couch as the staple of the South Australian turf industry for over 30 years. They have been great for the large back yard and the laid-back lifestyle; however, these days with
housing blocks smaller, houses and fences higher bringing more shade, our parks and sporting grounds have heavier utilisation, we needed to find varieties to suit our ‘modern homes and lifestyles’. This is where science meets grass! The Lawn Solutions Australia group has the largest research program in the southern hemisphere and over the last five years have been working with world leaders in grass breeding to find substantially better lawn varieties to meet the future needs of our communities. We are proud and excited to say that we now have found two standout varieties that shine out above the rest, backed with up to 25 years research and breeding in the USA. The Turf Farm, South Australia turf supplier, introduced with great excitement, Sir Grange Zoysia and TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda grass to the AILA attendees. These super grasses, will and already have, changed the way we look at using turf. This innovation in turf provided attendees with a clear insight into the application benefits that these varieties will have on their future projects. Many attendees voiced their reluctance to use common varieties like kikuyu due to their limitations. They were looking for new varieties that could handle the same conditions but could also handle more difficult conditions, such as shade. Because of these limitations with current or previous turf varieties, grass was not being specified. With the introduction of Sir Grange and TifTuf, now it can.
Chloe Hardie
A ILA SOUTH AUSTRAL IA / 15 13
Tuf times for Primary Schools A NEW LOW MAINTENANCE PLAY SPACE FOR KIDS AT ST COLUMBKILLE’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Principal Bradley Colquhoun and kids at St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School
Countless studies have shown that well maintained lawn and green space areas have a positive benefit on public health outcomes. Turfgrasses play a critical role in the general health and welfare of our nation and as a result of increasing urbanisation, they are becoming more and more important for human health. Lawns, parks and open playgrounds provide areas of cool, clean and calm that are critical to improved health; they are oases that are somewhat freer of the stresses of daily life in an urban environment School playgrounds and sports fields are also a crucial part of a healthy and balanced education process and add to the overall appeal and practicality of a school. Many schools in built up environments find it hard to retain areas of open green space for their
students because of development pressures and the cost of maintaining and servicing these areas. One such school is St Columbkille’s primary school, situated 60km south of Sydney and just 5km north of the city of Wollongong, the school is a short walk from the shopping district of Corrimal, a popular suburb of the coastal city of Wollongong. The school is in a highly developed area so the available space for grounds is very limited. St Columbkille’s has one “paddock” of around 1400m2 that is used heavily by the students for sports classes, recess and lunch as well as before and after school care. The amount of little feet on this relatively small patch of grass is extreme to say the least. Current principal and sports fanatic Mr Bradley Colquhoun has made it a priority
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to maintain this area in a usable state so the children at the school can play and learn in a safe and natural environment. “After several years of a sub-standard grass playground space, we have finally found a product that is deserving of our students” Said Mr Colquhoun. In late 2017, Mr Colquhoun contacted Lawn Solutions Australia to get advice on a revamp of this area to get it up to a standard that would be safe and enjoyable for the kids at the school to use. With the excess traffic and lack of a dedicated maintenance staff member, relying on volunteers for mowing and upkeep, the field had degraded over time and was becoming a hazard with grazed knees a common issue for the children. “We really needed a playground space that was safe, accessible and aesthetically pleasing for our students
be able to use and take great pride in” Mr Colquhoun commented. The school needed an attractive but hardy, low maintenance option for the paddock that would be able to handle the amount of foot traffic that it receives each day and not need constant attention to remain healthy and green. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda grass was chosen because it answered the needs of the school and had been proven to sustain high traffic areas as well as being very drought tolerant. In December 2017, the school went ahead with the project, removing the existing turf and weeds, recommissioning the underground sprinkler system and Active Turf installing 1350m2 of premium TifTuf to cover the paddock and nearly a year later, the move has proven to be a winner. The
children returned to the 2018 school year to find a brilliant green field where there once was a worn and patchy cover and have been able to use the field without issue ever since. “The renovation of our primary grassed area using the TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda grass in consultation with Lawn Solutions Australia has provided our St Columbkille’s school, Corrimal and the wider community with a beautiful area and they just love playing on it” Mr Colquhoun iterated. The winter following the installation was a particularly cold and dry season, but the grass remained intact with no fertiliser and very minimal irrigation. Mr Colquhoun continued “This playground space is consistently used throughout the week for numerous activities. Throughout the autumn and winter months the cover of grass was exceptional and held up well throughout this
period. From a WHS perspective and overall functionality, the grass provided the students with a safe and reliable surface that was used several times per day, 5 days a week through Term 2 and 3.” In the term 3 holidays, Mr Colquhoun organised a renovation of the paddock, aerating, fertilising and topdressing the space to get it back to its original glory and the results were very pleasing. The inclusion of TifTuf, a grass bred especially for circumstances just like this, has made a small piece of real estate green, safe and user friendly again which has and will do a lot for the mental and physical health of the students at St Columbkilles for years to come.
N E W PLAYGROUN D FOR ST COLUMBKILLE’S PS / 17 15
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16 / H US QVA R NA AU TO M OW E R 18
Mobile Interaction Control and configure the mower from anywhere in the world with the Automower® Connect app. It also features theft protection with GPS tracking. Premium Design The new X-Line Automower® range features a unique design with LED headlights to improve visibility in low light. Rubber bumpers protect its looks and reduce scratch marks, while the unique X-Line orange wheel caps make sure it stands out. Intelligent Mowing GPS assisted Navigation ensures automatic and uniform coverage on complex lawns – for a perfect looking lawn and easy installation.
Husqvarna Automower® is a truly reliable way of mowing your lawn. When it’s time to take your garden to the next level, visit husqvarna.com
Melbourne Polytechnic offers new Turf Degree MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC IS EXCITED TO LAUNCH A NEW DEGREE COURSE, THE BACHELOR OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY, MAJORING IN SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT.
The Bachelor course will commence in February 2019, and is offered in partnership with La Trobe University. Many in the Australian turf industry have been agitating for a viable Degree program for years, due to the increasing complexity of the role of Turf Managers, and the increasing need for tertiary-trained staff in turf-specific R&D, technical sales and consultancy roles. The US has had degree-level training in turf for several decades, and Canada and several European countries now do as well. The full degree course consists of 24 units, but entrants who have recently completed a Turf Diploma will be eligible for up to 8 exemptions, depending on the units they did. Assuming that 8 exemptions were granted, that leaves 16 units to complete.
1, Living Systems 2, Statistics, Ecological Systems, Plant Physiology, Plant Pests and Pathogens, Applied Genomics and Breeding, Future Technology and Integrated Production Management. Although those units are taught in a general ag context, the assignments and prac work done by turf students would be done in a turf context. The two remaining units are electives, allowing you to choose units like Marketing or Human Resource Management or Agribusiness or Wine Appreciation (true), or even units done outside the Ag school or at different university. This gives you a chance to branch out into an area of special interest.
Three of those16 units are turf-specific (Turf Construction and Drainage, Turf for Sport, and one other to be determined). Another two units involve research projects, so they could also be counted as turf-specific.
You can take up to 7 years to complete the course, so it would suit a part-time study mode, potentially with the participant continuing to work full time. There are lots of study options, including blended delivery, where lectures are viewed on-line and practical work is done on selected weekends. This makes it a viable option for rural or interstate students.
Of the 11 remaining units, 9 are generic agronomy units, where the turf student will be in a class with viticulturists, ag students and others. These units are: Living Systems
Take an example: a student who has completed the Turf Diploma and been granted the 8 exemptions could enrol to start the Degree in Feb 2019. Assume
they wanted to study part-time and keep their full-time job. Over the 13 weeks of Semester 1 they would study Living Systems 1 on Mondays, 9am – 4pm at the Epping Campus. In Semester 2 they could continue in the same time slot, doing Living Systems 2. They could work out an arrangement where they make up that time at work, or drop back to 0.8 employment to allow them that study time. As well as the 7 hours/wk of formal study, the student would be expected to devote another 8 hours/wk or so for home study and assignment work. If you hadn’t done the Turf Diploma it would make a lot of sense to do that through the TAFE system and then become eligible for the exemptions into the Degree course, as TAFE Diploma units are cheaper. Under the Commonwealth Supported Funding, the cost per Degree unit is $1,100 – $1,300. Loans are available, search ‘Fee Help Study Assist’ for information. The program provides an excellent, seamless pathway for our industry – potentially, a Turf Manager could enter the industry as an apprentice, carry on to the Diploma, and transition into the Degree. It’s possible, in fact, to then move on to post-grad study. Now that’s a pathway!
N EW SPORTS TURF MA N AGEME N T DEGREE / 19 17
LawnFest 2018 THE ONLY FESTIVAL OF IT’S KIND.
LawnFest 2018 was held at Go Turf, Beerburrum
The Lawn Fest event was put together by the Australian Lawn Fanatics Facebook group to celebrate the start of spring and raise awareness for the Empower Golf Charity. LawnFest18 was a great day with up to 400 in attendance at the Go Turf turf farm at Beerburrum. The event provides a platform for ‘lawn fanatics’ to get together to discuss their lawns, but to also give them exclusive access to the operations of a turf farm which you don’t get to see too often. It is also a great opportunity for residential lawn enthusiasts to speak directly with turf associated products and brands to learn more about what will make their lawns the very best they can be. There were trade stalls, food trucks and plenty of fun for the whole family. The kids played a massive part in the day and were particularly important as the Lawn Fanatics
18 20 // L AWNFE ST 2 01 8
LawnFest 2018
promote themselves as a family group which they are really proud of. There were also education talks on the day from some of the best in the turf industry. The event was lucky enough to have Channel 9 attend and do their live weather crosses on the day, with people travelling from as far as WA and Tasmania to attend. Attendees attempted the most mowers mowing in one place for a Guinness World Record, with results still to be ratified. Another attraction on the day was the completion of a 70m crop circle with a Bushranger self-propelled mower, which was attached to a barrel and allowed to be let loose. The Lawn Fanatics have reported that they have had a lot of interest in next year as well, so plans are already underway. To join the group visit Australian Lawn Fanatics on Facebook, #auslf.
“The event provides a platform for ‘lawn fanatics’ to get together to discuss their lawns, but to also give them exclusive access to the operations of a turf farm which you don’t get to see too often.”
A live weather cross
Some lawn fanatics
The most mowers record attempt
Images courtesy of Go Turf and Dallas “Rusty” Garton LAW N F E ST 20 18 / 21 19
European Tour AUSTRALIAN DELIGATES TOURED EUROPE ON A RESEARCH TRIP, VISITING SOME OF THE WORLDS PREMIERE TURF FARMS AND SPORTS GROUNDS
20 22 / E  UR O P E AN TO U R
Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.
E UROPEA N TOUR // 23 21
A view of Emirates Stadium from the field
The path to the pitch
22 24 / ďťżE UR O P E AN TO U R
The players area
This year the LSA team embarked on a research trip to Europe to visit locations and people working at the cutting edge of the turf industry.
largest privately held Zoysia grass breeding and research facility in the world, is hoping that one day the zoysia variety Sir Grange will be used for the new playing surface.
Emirates Stadium
Rolawn
Emirates Stadium is the home ground to Arsenal Football Club and is an amazing field with an incredible history. The playing surface is kept at the same temperature and moisture content all year round. Sub surface heating is used with an irrigation system that can irrigate or remove water as required. If there is substantial rain, they can simply suck the water out of the surface. David Doguet, the president of Bladerunner Farms, the
Rolawn is the most futuristic and advanced turf farm found anywhere in the world. Delegates met the owner of Rolawn in their huge brand-new office complex. The incredible thing about Rolawn is that most of their high-tech equipment is designed and built by them on sight for their exclusive use. After this introduction delegates were taken to the Pro-Fresh Turf factory.
Rowlan Turf Farm
The Pro-Fresh Turf Factory starts with a 3-acre shed that once was an old aircraft hangar. This is where they pack and fill one million one tonne bags of soil each year that they provide and sell through their reseller network. The next shed is the Pro-Fresh shed, this is a 2-acre cool room, the size of a footy field! Rolawn sells 8 million square metres of turf a year and it all goes in this shed. To enter the shed the turf is loaded 24 pallets at a time into a large pressure vessel, then all the air and gases are sucked out of the pallets of turf. Then cold air and gas is pumped back into the core of the pallet. This reduces the core temperature of the pallet down to 3° Celsius, which immediately brings on dormancy stopping the moisture production of the plant. This increases the shelf life of the turf from 3 days to 7. The facility can treat 2,800m2 of turf every 12 minutes.
A revolutionary shelf life extender
An advanced turf seeder in action
EUROPE A N TO UR ďťż / 25 23
Rolawn Turf Factory The Rolawn Turf Factory was probably the most impressive part of the Rolawn facility, so new and impressive in fact that delegates were not allowed to take photos. Rolawn have built their own state of the art big roll turf harvesters that can cut a 200m2 roll of turf in 4 minutes, these are then loaded onto the truck and taken to the turf factory. This process only requires 2 workers in the turf paddock, rather than multiple harvesters and additional workers. When the turf rolls arrive at the factory, they are fed onto a large unrolling production line, speeding along the belt to pass through a final inspection by a series of cameras. These cameras can identify weeds and faults and if required a high-tech mower can adjust the height of
Rowlan Turf Farms
24 26 / E UR O P E AN TO U R
the turf. At this point in the process, they can apply colourants and other products as required. A digital bar code is then applied, before it can then be cut into any size roll or slab required. The turf is then sent to the ProFresh factory for cooling. It is then stacked by a robot onto pallet, wrapped and labelled and sent on a conveyor belt to the cool room. This machine can process 4000m2 an hour, 24 hours a day – 7 days a week, rain hail or shine. When poor weather is predicted, Rolawn can harvest a large quantity of the maxi-rolls and store it for up to 2 weeks to get them through. Rolawn are now in a position where they can sell all of their traditional turf harvesters, revolutionising the turf industry in the UK.
“the most futuristic and advanced turf farm anywhere in the world”
Epsom Downs Epsom Downs
Royal Automobile Club and Epsom Derby The Australian delegates then met with golf course manager Lee Strutt, at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in Epsom, Surrey. Lee spoke at last year’s AGCSA Australian Turfgrass Conference. Here they have a top end 36-hole golf course complex which is a part of the RAC Woodcote Park estate. The complex is having issues with its cool season golf course due to new regulations in the UK cutting golf course water use by 70% and banning the use of most fungicides that were previously used on the course. Lee is looking at zoysia turf varieties like Sir Grange and colourants like ColourGuard to manage the issue moving forward. Delegates also visited the Epsom Downs Race Course, also in Epsom, Surrey, which is famous for it’s U-shape course which runs over a mile long.
EUROPE A N TO UR / 27 25
Winner Prostyle Building Group - ACT
The 2018 HIA Greensmart Awards The Housing Industry Association (HIA) Greensmart Awards recognise the diligent efforts of environmentallyaware residential builders, designers and manufacturers. The Awards recognise those who build or design environmentally-friendly homes, provide solutions to make homes more efficient or create new products for the building industry. The 2018 Housing Industry Association Greensmart Award was proudly partnered with Lawn Solutions Australia.
Lawn Solutions Australia was keen to promote environmentally friendly and efficient solutions for new projects. The 2018 HIA Lawn Solutions Australia Greensmart Awards recipients went to Prostyle Building Group from the ACT and Southern NSW. Other catagories included Custom Built Home, Display Home, Project Home of the Year and Sustainable Home.
26 28 / 2 ďťż 0 1 8 H I A G R E E N S M A R T AWA R D S
Winner MyStyle Homes - QLD
Winner Living Green Designer Homes - NSW
2018 HIA GRE E N SMA RT AWA RDS / 29 27
MiClub Continues to Blaze a Trail REVITALIZE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH MICLUB’S INTEGRATED FACILITY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR GOLF VENUES.
MiClub’s Golf and Club Management software
Since 2000, MiClub have been trailblazers in the Australian golf industry with their web-based golf and club management software. Guided by a strong focus on improving customer experience and increasing efficiencies for staff, MiClub’s systems are constantly innovating the way Australian golf clubs operate. Two of MiClub’s popular facility management products are Range Servant Integration and SwiftPOS. They are currently deployed at multiple Australian golf venues including Moore Park Golf and Curlewis Driving Range. This software integrates Range Servant ball dispensers with point of sale software to create a unique service experience.
SwiftPOS, point of sale management SwiftPOS is a point of sale management system that has over 12,500 touch terminals in use worldwide. Even though it was originally developed for the hospitality industry, it is a perfect fit for golf venues due to its retail features and the capacity to integrate with Range Servant ball dispensers and MiClub software. Through SwiftPOS, facilities can implement a wide range of point of sale features. Adding digital menu boards, advertising and kitchen order screens are all fantastic ways to enrich customer experiences through service. For staff, SwiftPOS not only improves customer service but also controls stock levels, collects
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“we could never have imagined the benefits” - Curlewis Golf Club Manager Brenden Caligari
useful customer information and analyses sales performance making for a smoother management experience. Curlewis Golf Club’s driving range facility uses SwiftPOS and Range Servant to help form their distinct service environment. Club Manager Brenden Caligari says “in 2016, MiClub recommended that we transition our existing POS software to SwiftPOS. Two years on, we could never have imagined the benefits; from ease of use for staff to building customised reports. SwiftPOS has ensured that our commercial operation transacts, tracks, reports and stocktakes accurately.” Range Servant ball dispenser integration The Range Servant interface helps golf clubs further with various administrative
tasks including managing yield, setting happy hour times and dispensing balls at different rates based on the member or customer classification. With this setup, customers have access to Range Servant ball dispensers with barcode receipts and contactless smart cards for quick and convenient purchasing. The biggest benefit of an integrated facility management system is that golf operators require only one system, rather than having to juggle multiple payment or stock systems. To round out the system, MiClub can also set-up touch screen kiosks, loyalty programs, membership cards and other features that work to make a very smooth service experience for players and staff alike. When a golf club installs MiClub’s integrated
SwiftPOS system with Range Servant ball dispensers, they create processes that improves workflow for administrators and enhance the service experience for players. To find out more, visit MiClub’s website, www.miclub.com.au
Contact: Country Club International 6 Gateway Drive, Carrum Downs Victoria 3201, Australia Tel (Int. 61 3) 9776 9066 Fax (Int. 61 3) 9776 9077 Email info@countryclub.com.au
N E W SOF TWA RE F ROM MIC LUB // 29 31
Rethinking Crop Protection ADAMA AUSTRALIA AND SWARMFARM ROBOTICS PARTNERSHIP
THIS PAGE SwarmFarm Robotics technologies in use
Adama Australia has committed to a partnership with SwarmFarm Robotics to deliver innovative solutions to the agricultural and turf production industry.
the SwarmFarm technology to assess unique crop protection formulations and innovative use patterns to help deliver new simplified solutions around resistant weeds, labour, application timing and efficacy.
SwarmFarm’s technology will help to improve the productivity of current farming systems by offering small, lightweight, hightech robotic machines that will operate in swarms to undertake key tasks of cropping systems, such as planting, weed control, insect control, fertiliser application, irrigation, mowing and harvesting. Adama will utilise
With SwarmFarm we will rethink the way crop protection is applied in today’s farming system. SwarmFarm has the potential to deliver greater simplicity to farmers, not only in Australia, but across all developed and emerging markets around the world.
30 32 / A DAMA AUST R A L I A PA R T N E R S H I P
1st Products Agrivator The 1st Products Agrivator
The 1st Products Agrivator in action
The 1st Products Agrivator uses a patented vibrating rotor action to loosen and break up the soil without destroying the existing turf on the surface. It works using a 6 inch solid tine on a set of oscillating rotors to penetrate the surface and break apart the soil, this is then followed by a rear cleated roller to then flatten the aerated surface. The 1st products equipment come standard with a 12 months manufacturer’s warranty and are built to last and feature a heavyduty frame construction. The Agrivator is available in three different models the AG72, AG96 and the AG144 with different operating widths of 6ft, 8ft and 12ft. The complete Agrivator range can also be fitted with an optional seed box to help facilitate growth and obtain the best results for your turf. This will help accomplish renovations on all types of fields including
turf farms, sports fields, pastures, equestrian parks, municipal ovals and golf courses. The crushing action between the rotors breaks up the soil in the root zone significantly improving infiltration of air, nutrients, and water causing as much as 30% faster regrowth by fracturing and stimulating the rhizomes under the surface. The operator can vary the tine aggressiveness by changing the PTO/ground speed and by adjusting the rear cleated roller. The 1st Products Agrivators are simple to operate and maintain, which makes farming and agricultural tasks much more manageable saving time, money and man hours.
“The 1st Products Agrivators are simple to operate and maintain, which makes farming and agricultural tasks much more manageable saving time, money and man hours.”
Call our team at Equipment Solutions to book in a demonstration today! Equipment Solutions Ph: 02 9827 1311 www.equipmentsolutions.com.au
1ST PRODUC TS AGRIVATOR // 33 31
Water-less grass NEW RESEARCH IS CONFIRMING THAT TIFTUF TRULY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME
Turf trials by Melbourne Polytechnic Turf research in recent times has focused on finding new varieties of grass that have superior characteristics beneficial to the changing environment. At the top of this list of characteristics is the need for turf varieties that use less water, with a greater drought tolerance. TifTuf is a Hybrid- Bermuda (couch) grass that has been bred to stand up to drought conditions, save water and has become the new benchmark when it comes to measuring the drought tolerance of turf. Melbourne Polytechnic recently undertook a trial of four different couch grasses and measured how they responded to drought like conditions. The couch grasses included in this trial were Legend, Santa Ana, TifTuf and Wintergreen. The three
“In my lysimeter trials TifTuf retained green At the conclusion of the drought cycles, colour longer than the one replicate of each cultivar was other three varieties in removed from the pot to observe root and rhizome production. a dry-down situation, It was noted that Santa Ana and Wintergreen appeared devoid of rhizomes, and I’m betting that’s Legend had some short but visible because of these rhizomes and TifTuf had a noticeably higher level of rhizome production. strong rhizomes. mechanisms for drought tolerance studies are drought tolerance, drought avoidance and drought escape.
Conclusion: • After prolonged drought, TifTuf retained green colour longer than the other grasses. • TifTuf produced more rhizomes than the other cultivars, which might contribute to better drought tolerance.
32 F TR I A LS BY M E L B O U R N E P OLY T E C HN IC 34 / TUR
dd-Dr Philip Ford, Melbourne Polytechnic TifTuf tolerates drought because it uses less water due to physiological adjustments during times of drought. TifTuf can survive on as little as 12mm of irrigation per week and maintains green colour in serious
TifTuf
Santa Ana
Legend drought conditions where as other common couch grasses will fail. In the above image, TifTuf, Santa Ana and Legend towards the end of a prolonged drought in trials (8 weeks without rain or irrigation). Note the variability between replicates of Santa Ana and Legend; yet all three TifTuf pots stayed uniformly green. Wintergreen had perished weeks earlier. There was a visible difference in colour retention in prolonged drought. This points to TifTuf better exploiting a drought tolerance mechanism that the others don’t have.TifTuf also had a noticeably higher level of rhizome production. The image to the left is a close up of the rhizome growth, another sign of a highly drought tolerant grass. For a lawn that requires less water and can stand up to drought conditions, you can’t go past TifTuf.
TURF TRIA LS BY ME LBOURN E POLYTE C HNIC / 35 33
INFINICUT from Cub Cadet THE ULTIMATE SPORTS TURF MOWER THAT’S ADJUSTABLE TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE DAY
The INFINICUT® line of precision mowers are designed to be user-adjustable to match the conditions of any given day. From the dynamic return floating head mechanism to the variable clip speed, height of cut adjustment, moveable bedknife, and swappable dual power source, the
34 36 / I NFI NI CUT F R O M C LU B C A D E T
INFINICUT® provides more functionality than any other pitch mower. Combine that with today’s highly technical approach to pitch construction and unpredictable microclimates, the INFINICUT® ensures a healthy turf while providing an unrivaled quality of cut.
Variable Clip Speed
Low Ground Pressure
The adjustable variable clip rate and forward speed adjustment system* results in a no compromise solution for sports turf maintenance.
The ground pressure of the unit is evened out over the rear roller and the two chassis rollers due to the floating head design.
Petrol Or Battery Powered
INFINICUT at Amsterdamsche FC
Power is produced by either a petrol engine via a 1.5kW generator, or a nominal 48V LiFePO4 battery module to drive the traction unit and the reel’s DC brushless motor. They can be quickly swapped, in-field if necessary, to suit the working environment. The hybrid configuration improves fuel efficiency, whilst the battery drive reduces noise. Battery • 48V LiPO 20Ah, 30Ah and 40Ah Honda 4 Stroke (GX120) • 3.5 Net HP (2.6 kW) per SAEJ 1940 @ 3,600 rpm as certified by Honda** • Displacement: 118cc • Unleaded petrol
Adjustable Chassis From the on-the-fly wrenchless adjustment of the front roller height to the adjustable bedknife, the user can make further adjustments to maximize cutting effiency no matter what the conditions. INFINICUT® 21, 22, 26, 30 AND 34 MOWERS Available in 21”, 22”, 26”, 30”, and 34” widths, the INFINICUT® mower is the ultimate sports turf mower. For more visit www.cubcadetturf.com.au * Patents granted or pending. ** The power testing information used to establish the power rating of this engine can be found at http://engines.honda.com/models/ model-detail/gx120.
IN F IN IC UT F ROM C LUB C A DET / 37 35
NATSPEC updates are a win for the turf industry NATSPEC INTRODUCES BRANDED WORK SECTION FOR TURF SPECIFICATION.
Isn’t it funny how often in landscape projects, the largest surface area is generally covered by natural turf, yet it seems to get far less attention at the planning phase than any other aspects of the project, even less than the wood chip that goes in garden beds! Natural turf grass is a valuable and practical solution for ground cover space that is intended to be used by the public, and when the correct turf choice is made, it will greatly enhance the appearance of any garden mulch or even a concrete path.
36 P E C UP DAT E S 38 / NATS
Recent investments into turf research and breeding in the United States in particular, has led to an influx of new and improved turf species on the Australian market. These turf grasses have been specifically bred to answer the needs of the consumer with greater tolerances to the pressures faced by turf grass in Australia like drought, shade and foot traffic to name a few. Selecting the right grass for each situation is imperative to the success of that particular project. Besides the importance of selecting the correct turf, as is the case when painting a house, the difference between a good
job, a great job and an absolute fail, is in the preparation. All too often a perfectly healthy grass is laid on a poorly prepared site without the correct amenities to support that plant after initial installation, ultimately leading to failure. One valuable tool that is often used by landscape architects in the creation of a project tender is NATSPEC. NATSPEC is a national not-for-profit organisation that is owned by the design, build, construct and property industry through professional associations and government property groups. NATSPEC’s objective
“NATSPEC’s objective is to improve the construction quality and productivity of the built environment through leadership of information.”
NATSPEC Branded Worksections page
is to improve the construction quality and productivity of the built environment through leadership of information. NATSPEC, the National Building Specification, is for all building structures with specialist packages for architects, building designers, interior designers, landscape architects, structural engineers, service engineers and domestic owners. NATSPEC maintains the National Classification System to assist specification writers organise the content of specifications, and their users to find the information they need.
Within the NATSPEC System is a template for the use of natural turf surfaces that is used by landscape architects to put together the information needed to make a project successful. Lawn Solutions Australia has teamed up with NATSPEC to create a branded work section for turf specification0252p Lawn Solutions in Landscape – natural grass surfaces. The branded work section builds on the generic information available in the NATSPEC template by adding specific turf types along with their traits and suitable uses in various landscape, sporting and
domestic settings. The document also has recommendations for all aspects of the project providing the specifier with the information needed to ensure that the site preparation, turf selection and installation right through to ongoing maintenance is correctly identified to minimise the chances of failure. When specifying turf for your next project, check out the 0252p Lawn Solutions in Landscape – natural grass surfaces template by visiting the NATSPEC website in the branded work section.
N ATSPEC UPDATES / 39 37
Enthusiasts enjoy the Expo
WA Lawn Expo THE WESTERN AUSTRALIA TURF GROWERS ASSOCIATION WELCOMES ENTHUSIASTS FOR THEIR FIRST EVER EXPO. On Saturday the 27th of October WA held its first ever Lawn Expo. This was a free event put together by Eva Ricci and the WA Turf Growers Association. The inspiration for the event came from the Facebook group, WA Lawn Addicts.
portray turf as a water guzzler and space waster. Increased urbanisation for the Perth metro and saving water has been the main driver of this policy. The result has seen media campaigns to promote smaller blocks and less lawn areas.
correct. The WA Lawn Expo was designed to do just this.
The WA Lawn Addicts are a group of Perth lawn enthusiasts who have grown to a membership of 3500 members and offer advice to those wanting help with their lawns. They showcase member’s efforts to have the best lawn in the street.
Perth residents are showing that there is still pride in having the greenest lawn in the street. This has given the WA Turf Grower’s the confidence to fight back and the WA Lawn Addicts are on-board, helping to send out their message that lawn is worth having and worth fighting for.
1. Retic Audits
The page has been a great source of confidence for WA turf growers. Turf in WA has had a terrible rap over the last 10 years and is really struggling from the negative government and media messages that
38 LAWN E X P O 2 0 1 8 40 / WA
The most important thing in the promotion of lawns as a viable and necessary product is ensuring that the advice being given on the Lawn Addicts page is credible and
The day was set up not to sell turf, but to educate homeowners on the 3 easy steps to ensure success with their lawn:
2. Correct use of wetting agents 3. Correct fertilising Other educational displays included soil amendments, mowing best practice, turf renovations and weed spraying advice. WA Turf Growers had a stand where they showcased the different brands and types of turf, however individual farms were not the
Enthusiasts at product stalls
Enthusiasts enjoy product demonstrations Photography by Rae Fallon
focus. The Growers educated householders on the different varieties of turf and manned the demonstrations. Eva was amazed at the support from the industry as well over 30 stakeholders got involved with a stand, from irrigation suppliers to mower and soil improvement companies. Again, the emphasis was on education. All said, it was a fantastic day with many reporting they are excited to get involved again next year. It was not just the turf growers who thought it was a great day. Below are a couple of quotes from exhibitors: “Congratulations Turf Growers Association Western Australia on a fantastic event. For
the general public to have access to the best and most knowledgeable turf growers in the state was fantastic. The new weatherbased irrigation controllers were an eye opener and cheap as chips too!” said Aaron Compton (Department of Water). He continued, “Great to see Irrigation Australia at this showcase event and it shows how well we do things here in the West, when you have people flying in from Sydney specifically to attend!” Nick Clayton (T-Quip) said of Lawn Expo“In over 30 years in this industry this is without a doubt THE best expo, the best industry event, that I have had the pleasure of being involved with.” Tim Richards (Richgro and Amazon Soils) said of the event, “Without a
doubt the best industry expo that we have been involved with ever. We had people queuing as many as twelve people deep just to learn about soil amendments, fertilisers and wetting agents for lawns! It was better than the Perth Garden Festival from an exhibitor and educator perspective. We simply couldn’t keep up with the flow of people! Excellent Expo, we definitely want to be involved again next year.” The day was a definite success and thanks must be given to Eva for organising it and to the WA Lawn Addicts for giving the Turf Growers the confidence and platform to promote why we love and need lawn. Reports are next year will be even bigger and better.
41 WA LAW N E XPO 20 18 // 39
Gladstone East Shores Precinct LOCATION: GLADSTONE, QLD
The Gladstone East Shores Precinct is a major new recreational hub for the City of Gladstone located on the foreshore of Auckland Inlet. The integrated parkland design features an innovative application of ‘wicking bed’ technology to store locally harvested stormwater runoff for passive irrigation of a high use open lawn area. The Project Goal
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Sustainable & healthy environment - The aim was to protect Auckland inlet from stormwater pollution and reduce reliance on potable water supplies.
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Passively irrigated and resilient green space - The storage zone and wicking bed provides the turf above with a reliable supply of water using a method that doesn’t require the use of energy (e.g. irrigation pumps). This solution also reduces stormwater pollutant loads entering Auckland Inlet by storing and using the stormwater for passive irrigation and thereby reducing the volume of stormwater leaving the site.
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Treatment of stormwater flows Vegetated swales, bioretention raingardens, permeable pavers and rainwater tanks are also used across the site as part of the overall stormwater management strategy for the precinct.
The Innovations Harvesting, storage and reuse of stormwater to passively irrigate a high use turfed open space using wicking bed technology.
To deliver of sustainable irrigation using harvested stormwater and wicking bed technology to achieve green and resilient turf open space within the new Gladstone East Shores Precinct.
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Shallow storage zone - Stormwater is diverted from the road and shelters into a storage zone (artificial sand aquifer) built beneath a 1420 m2 turf kick and throw area.
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‘Wicking-bed’ technology - Using the natural process of soil capillary rise, driven by evapotranspiration, the water stored in the storage zone is drawn up to the active root zone, thereby ensuring optimal soil moisture conditions for healthy turf growth. This
World-class parkland in a drying climate - The Gladstone climate and the existing soil profile required an innovative solution for supporting resilient green spaces, water management and irrigation for the parkland.
soil profile also ensures the fields are able to drain effectively after rainfall for quick return to play.
40 42 / G L ADSTO NE E AST S H O R E S P R E C I N T
Turf Selection Nullarbor couch was chosen for the East Shores maritime precinct due to price and availability from local grower. The turf supplier for the works was Bay Turf Gladstone, who the Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) have always found great to deal with and very knowledgeable. This project was handled by the principle contractor and not directly by the GPC however, turf supplied to GPC from this supplier has been of excellent condition. The turf was performing well in the beginning however after 12 months or more it began to struggle. Soil tests were undertaken which indicated the soil was the issue, having some specific nutrient deficiencies. These soil deficiencies have since been rectified and the turf is now performing very well. The reaction of the community has been tremendous, with continual heavy usage over the last 4 years. This has been reflected in 2 nominations from the community with Gladstone’s “best in business awards” winning 2 years (17 & 18) in a row for best Tourist attraction.
Wicking Bed Technology
of this project has demonstrated that wicking bed technology is a viable solution for achieving healthy turf growth and integrated water management benefits.
Wicking Bed Technology ‘Wicking bed’ technology is a highly transferable and scalable concept for the passive irrigation of sports fields, high profile open space, podium planting, planter boxes and street trees. For largescale sports field/open space application, the concept is most applicable on new sites or existing sites where the soil profile needs to be rebuilt as the wicking zone can be incorporated cost effectively. Retrofitting existing parks or sports fields, where there aren’t other drivers for reconstruction, may be cost prohibitive due to the earthworks and infrastructure required to incorporate the water storage/wicking zone. •
Results to date show success - Since its construction in 2014, the success
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Site challenges can create opportunities - Poor soils, shallow rock and the need for fill on the site provided the opportunity to recreate the soil profile in a new and functional way. Stormwater as a resource - Stormwater quality outcomes can be achieved by using stormwater as a resource and don’t necessarily need to be achieved through traditional stormwater treatment devices.
Project collaborators: •
E2Designlab
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Gladstone Ports Corporation
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Urbis Awards:
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Planning Institute of Australia 2016 National Award for Planning Excellence - Great Place Award
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AILA 2015 - Award for Excellence in Urban Design
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Parks and Leisure Australia Qld 2016 - Best Parks and Open Space Development
GLA DSTON E E AST SHORE S PRECINT // 43 41
Temporary pitch construction
Temporary Pitch Revolution The world is full of high-end sports stadia. Every major city has at least one top quality natural playing surface where the great and the good of the sporting world can ply their trade. However, access to these pitches is, understandably, limited to the teams and businesses that manage them. So how do tournaments, events and places where stadiums aren’t commonplace get to eat at the top table?
STRI research manager Will Pearce introduces a revolutionary natural playing surface solution – the temporary pitch. There is a growing challenge to facilitate sports on natural turfgrass playing surfaces while fostering urban greening in our ever-expanding concrete jungles. We are faced with a multitude of challenges to deliver a natural turfgrass surface in these environments and there are several alternative options for its replacement.
44 / TE MP O R ARY P I TC H R E VOLU T I ON 42
“So how do tournaments, events and places where stadiums aren’t commonplace get to eat at the top table?”
Turfgrass can be overlooked and consequently replaced due to the limited availability of capability, knowledge and technology to deliver a natural turfgrass surface.
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Unpredictability of weather makes it difficult to schedule and ensure playable surfaces, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical environments where sporadic rain events can occur.
With the work that STRI undertakes on a local and international scale, it is evident that there are common challenges that decision makers and turfgrass managers are faced with. Most prominently when striving to deliver playability and performance characteristics required to deliver high quality natural turfgrass surfaces. Some of these include:
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Seasonal variation in climate in addition to the microclimate of stadia makes maintaining a natural turfgrass extremely difficult.
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Locations in marginal climates, such as the transition zone, are faced with the important decision of the appropriate turfgrass species and cultivar. The choice is between cool season (C3) turfgrasses such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) or the warm season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and bermudagrass
Environmental challenges •
Heavy shade and resulting low light levels often restrict turfgrass growth without artificial lighting.
hybrids (Cynodon dactylon and Cynodon dactlyon x Cynodon transvaalensis), Paspalums (Paspalum vaginatum) and zoysias (Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella). Some regions keep a warm season turfgrass base and oversow with cool season turfgrass to maintain surface cover, aesthetics and playability when the warm season turfgrass goes dormant through the cooler months of the year. This makes the event scheduling, renovation and management windows extremely difficult. Physical and cultural challenges •
Space requirements of a sports pitch, particularly in city centres where space is a premium and a scarcity.
TEMPORA RY PITC H RE VOLUTION / 45 43
Temporary pitch construction phases Introducing the temporary natural sports turf pitch In 2013 Sports Water Drainage Systems (SWDS) commissioned STRI to research the Blue2Green system. The Blue2Green system utilises hollow and rigid geo cellular units as a sub base, providing drainage and irrigation, on top of which the rootzone and natural turf pitch can be installed. Many trials were set-up in different climates to investigate two factors within the system: 1. The depth of the rootzone material over a geo cellular unit 2. Whether there would be any difference between two contrasting rootzone materials.
The final pitch •
Capital investment required to set-up a permanent sports pitch is often not viable and events are regularly short term where permanent infrastructure isn’t required.
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The expertise, experience and expectations in delivering the quality required on a natural sports turf pitch is often unavailable in developing countries.
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The education systems required to improve the skills and knowledge of turfgrass managers are often unavailable in developing markets.
With all the challenges required to deliver natural turf surfaces it is evident that there is a necessity to seek an alternative solution. Not only will this require overcoming most challenges but also put natural turfgrass in the forefront given that alternative ground coverings have been the first choice.
44 46 / TE MP O R ARY P I TC H R E VOLU T I ON
The purpose of the trial was to establish whether it was possible to construct a temporary natural sports turf pitch with a shallow rootzone, and test if the growth and performance of turfgrass was sustainable. Would this pitch have the same performance specifications as a conventional depth pitch rootzone construction? A suite of measurements were taken at regular intervals over the two-year research period to assess the turfgrass performance against a standard 300mm USGA profile. These included: •
Live grass cover
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Turf quality
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Turf colour
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Chlorophyll index
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NDVI
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Surface hardness
Cells locked together •
Surface traction
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Volumetric soil water content
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Water infiltration
From the measurements taken within this period it was found that there were no statistical differences between a 50mm rootzone over a geo cellular unit and a 300mm standard rootzone. This was determined for quality, colour and performance measurements, despite the obvious differences between rootzones with regard to moisture, infiltration and establishment measurements. The 50mm rootzone over the geo cellular unit tended to be more adaptable and would change more rapidly compared to the 300mm rootzone. During wetter periods over the two years, the 50mm rootzone tended to increase in moisture content much more quickly than the 300mm standard profile. During drier conditions, the 50mm plots tended to dry out more quickly, resulting in greater moisture stress. Furthermore, the establishment of sown seed on the 50mm rootzone was faster than the 300mm rootzone with the moisture and nutrient retention of the rootzone having an effect. From the research undertaken by STRI, SWDS were able to confirm that they could construct a temporary natural sports turf pitch with a shallow rootzone over a geo cellular unit. At STRI’s Research Open Days, SWDS have showcased the temporary pitch as a product which is now available on the market. This product combines geo cellular unit with thick cut turf to allow high quality sports pitches to be constructed almost anywhere in the world.
Blue2GReen sand depth research at STRI’s research station •
A full turfgrass pitch can be set-up and laid in 48hrs ready for play.
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The unique combination of geocellular units with capillary irrigation significantly reduces the amount of material needed to be transported to and from the site.
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Thick-cut (50mm or greater) stadium quality hybrid turf of an appropriate species and cultivar can be laid as big roll turf directly onto the geo cellular units.
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When the event is over all materials, including turf and sub base system, can be disconnected, stacked, taken back in stock and reused for another project. Nothing is wasted and the site returns to business-as-usual.
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The geo cellular units underneath act as an efficient drainage system and minimise field down-time from weather conditions.
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The geo cellular units can be sealed with a waterproof membrane and used as a water capture system beneath the pitch. One 8000m2 pitch of the 85mm depth geo cellular units beneath can capture approximately 680,000 litres.
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When the geo cellular units are sealed, the turf can be irrigated through passive irrigation by placing capillary active fibres in cylinders inside the geo cellular units that wick water into the rootzone. This method has been proven to save 30-40% of the water on average in comparison to a standard USGA profile and conventional turfgrass irrigation practice.
“With all the challenges required to deliver natural turf surfaces it is evident that there is a necessity to seek an alternative solution.” dd- Will Pearce, STRI
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Constructing the temporary pitch does not involve digging or creating a subsoil foundation, only minorlevelling as the geo cellular units interlock together to create a level tensile raft.
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The lightweight recyclable plastic geo cellular units allow a temporary pitch to be set-up on areas that conventional pitch construction wouldn’t otherwise allow (such as rooftops etc.)
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It can be set-up for a variety of sports and events, such as temporary football, rugby, golf tee and temporary greenspace in a city centre.
The temporary pitch concept which has been created by SWDS will broaden the horizons for natural turfgrass pitches around the world. Just imagine; a car park today, a football pitch or golf tee tomorrow.
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South Bank Parklands Brisbane INSTALLATION OF NEW TURF VARIETIES
South Bank, Brisbane
South Bank is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and cultural destination. Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, it is open 365 days a year and attracts an estimated 11 million visitors annually. Just recently 2 new turf varieties, Sir Grange and TifTuf, were used within the parklands. The popular Ernest Street Entrance is a key feature to the parklands – slightly elevated, tall shady trees with large multi coloured pots - traditionally an area for park visitors to relax and sit on the lawn. South Bank chose Sir Grange Zoysia for this area as a long-term option with 340sqm being installed. Sir Grange Zoysia will handle the semi shaded
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conditions, will maintain excellent turf colour all, year round, use less water and most of all will be fantastic for the public to sit and relax. South Bank Parklands are always looking for new options and the latest innovation for their high-profile position in the public arena. Sir Grange Zoysia will fit that bill and stand out as a key feature and meeting point for the Brisbane public. Another area of South Bank had TifTuf turf laid in October 2017 and was brilliant during the summer and then during the months May to August copped a large amount of traffic, wear and no time for
recovery. South Bank Parklands gets bombarded by people and wear every day of the week. In the middle of August, the South Bank grounds team aerated, fertilised and roped the area off. Greg Mitchell is the Head Groundsman at South Bank and in his 11 years on the job, he hasn’t had a grass that recovers so quick from winter wear. Some 6 weeks later it is looking incredible and Greg can’t believe that a grass could recovery so much from bare dirt. TifTuf is the first Couch/ Bermuda that has survived in this area without being over sowed with ryegrass.
The Sir Grange section
The Sir Grange section
The TifTuf section
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Stolons in the testing phase
Australian Turf Industry Entering the Global Arena The Australian Turf Industry has now entered the global arena through the work of Lawn Solutions Australia, with their strong working relationship with international partners – Georgia State University, The Turfgrass Group, Bladerunner Farms, ItGap and Texas A&M. LSA is the first in Australia to have the support and exclusive arrangements with the world’s leading plant breeders, and now they are using the LSA R&D Facility as a sanctioned testing centre away from the USA. This is truly an industry break through to develop new grass cultivars with real points of difference that benefits the consumer. These new grass cultivars will be trialled and tested for Australian conditions,
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not like they have in the past where old rehashed US varieties were released in Australia without any trials or testing to gauge climate adaptability. LSA has secured the opportunity by way of sponsoring the Networking Lunch at the TPI Conference in Charlotte – North Carolina in February 2019. This is an opportunity to get in front of the Turf Producers International delegates to tell the LSA story and show the footprint that LSA has in Australia and the ongoing commitment it has to the turf industry. It is LSA’s goal to continue supporting these US partners and building strong ties for the ongoing development of the LSA network in Australia.
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For more information on these services visit strigroup.com, call 03 9558 6514 or email info@strigroup.com
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