Council addresses waterlogged sportsfield
Southern Highlanders love their winter sport. Unfortunately, the wet weather sometimes gets in the way, leaving playing fields soggy for weeks after a sudden deluge.
But thanks to a brand new state-of-the-art drainage system, the wet weather will have less of an impact this season for teams using the David Woods Playing Fields in East Bowral.
Works are currently underway to improve the sports ground, which is the home ground of Highlands FC and is also used by various other local sporting clubs and schools.
The improvements include an elaborate drainage system worth approximately $40,000, funded by Wingecarribee Shire Council’s sportsfield maintenance budget.
Specialised laser guided trenching equipment has been utilised to strategically place drainage trenches before an agriculture pipe is installed. The narrow trenches are then back-filled with gravel and coarse sand by a one of a kind machine.
The method – known as ‘slit drainage’ – removes unwanted surface water with minimal impact on the grass and a short recovery time.
“The new drainage system will mean that the field could receive a downpour early in the week and be ready to play on by the weekend – a big improvement on the current waiting time which can be up to several weeks,” Councillor David Stranger, Chairman of Wingecarribee Sport and Recreation Working Group, said.
Council will also re-seed and fertilise the playing surface after the drainage project is completed, with the field expected to re-open in three weeks.
The project is the first of many sports field makeovers that Council hopes to undertake, with other highly used and poorly drained ovals also earmarked to receive the drainage overhaul.
For more information contact Council’s Parks and Open Space Coordinator Greg Bray on (02) 4868 0888.