Dunedin City Council sports fields facilities officer
Harold Driver displays a sample of artificial turf, which
could be used to ease weather problems at grounds such as
the Oval (pictured). Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
The days of dirty knees and mud puddles on Dunedin's
sports fields could be numbered, as the Dunedin City Council
considers a switch to artificial turf.
Council staff confirmed this week they were considering using
artificial playing fields at grounds such as Logan Park or
the Oval, as an alternative to grass rugby and football
fields.
Some of the city's grass fields were prone to flooding in
winter, which this year has seen the cancellation of 371
junior, secondary school and senior football and rugby
fixtures.
Council community and recreation services general manager
Mick Reece said a switch to artificial turf could lead to
sports being played on fewer fields, freeing up other fields
for other recreational uses.
The artificial surfaces would cost up to $900,000 each to
install, but would ease weather disruption and save the
council money in the long term, by reducing the $2 million
each year spent maintaining 52 rugby and 54 football fields.
An example was Otago Hockey's success in using two artificial
playing surfaces at the McMillan Centre, at Logan Park,
instead of up to 15 grass playing fields, Mr Reece said.
"Once you have got an artificial field, like hockey has
already proved, you can go 24/7. That's a huge advantage," he
said.
Council sport fields facilities officer Harold Driver had
inspected two artificial turf rugby fields at the College
Rifles rugby club during a trip to Auckland last month, and a
briefing on artificial turf technology - organised by the
council - was also held in Dunedin last month.
Mr Reece said any change was likely to be several years away,
following talks with clubs and other groups and consultation
through the annual plan process, but there appeared to be
"huge advantages".
"It's consistent, it's reliable and it's not
weather-dependent . . . it has to be part of our planning for
the future. It's part of the thinking now."
Otago Hockey chief executive Chris Aubin said he supported
the move, as the installation of two artificial fields at the
McMillan Centre had been "in a word, brilliant".
The new surfaces allowed for constant use - restricted only
by a 10pm limit on the centre's floodlights - and the council
would save money in the longer term, he said. The turf could
be replaced every 12 years for less than half the
installation cost.
Club rugby and football players desperate for dry practice
pitches during May had also used the McMillan Centre for
training this winter, demonstrating their durability, he
said.
However, University A coach John Leslie - who earlier this
month criticised the council for closing grounds because of
wet weather - was more cautious.
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