Otago Polytechnic sports turf management staff and students
(from left) Sam Hellier, Ben Payne, Josh Baylis, Matt
Dickson, Gary Smith (programme manager), Logan Galloway,
Phil McGrory, Bob Steel (lecturer) Yuki Waga, Daniel Bailey
and Dane McRae inspect the Melbourne Cricket Ground turf
during their trip to Melbourne. Photo supplied.
Staff and students at Otago Polytechnic's sports turf
management programme in Cromwell are keen to help with
maintenance of the playing surface at the new Forsyth Barr
Stadium in Dunedin.
The company responsible for laying and maintaining the turf
has not been named but Gary Smith, the polytechnic's sports
turf management programme manager, said it would be an
exciting project to work on.
"We have not heard who has got the contract yet, but once we
know, we would really like to be involved.
"We've got guys on our courses who have been involved in the
industry for two years and are passionate about it.
"Our students have been involved in the last four New Zealand
golf opens."
The type of turf to be sown is also yet to be named but Mr
Smith said trials started some time ago.
He and lecturer Bob Steel recently accompanied a group of
eight second-year students on an eight-day trip to Melbourne
to look at stadiums, golf courses and the Flemington
racecourse.
They visited Etihad Stadium, which has a retractable roof.
The Motz turf system used to grow the stadium's turf produced
grass that was 40% artificial, but Mr Smith said it appeared
to be the best method available.
"It has a proven record for New Zealand and Australian
conditions. It's also used in places like Eden Park, AMI
Stadium and the MCG."
In Melbourne, Mr Smith held talks with some of his Australian
counterparts about establishing a reciprocal internship
arrangement for students from both countries.
It would involve some Australian sports turf students working
on New Zealand stadiums or golf courses and some of
Cromwell's best doing the same over there, he said.
The trip, which was the first to Australia by students from
the Cromwell course, was the brainchild of student Ben Payne.
Mr Payne said the students raised money for the trip with
activities such as selling firewood, maintaining bunkers at
the New Zealand Golf Open at The Hills course near Arrowtown,
and several others.
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