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WORKING WELL: The new sprinkling system fires up at Bennett Oval.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
The sprinklers are in and working at Bennett Oval as Stage 1 of the $2.8m redevelopment of the sporting facility continues.
South Australian company Greene Eden Water Systems has finished installing approximately 2500m of PVC piping below the turf surface with 135 sprinkler heads spaced 15 metres apart to create an even watering coverage of the Bennett Oval surface.
The last task for Greene Eden was to lay instant turf to cover the trenches with surface preparation to follow. Council crews have, and will continue, to fertilise core the surface and Belair Turf Management have completed one of two layers of top dressing to bring the surface up to AFL standard for next year’s pre-season game between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
Greene Eden has been working in Whyalla for nearly 30 years installing irrigation systems for many sporting ovals and schools in Whyalla including Edward John Eyre High School, Nicolson Primary School and several of the city’s reserves.
STRATEGICALLY PLACED: The sprinklers heads at Bennett Oval will provide a good coverage.
Managing Director Trevor Eden said the new irrigation system had gone in without a problem at Bennett Oval with the sprinkler heads strategically placed and the system linked to Council’s centralised water system.
The system will use reclaimed water and only come on at night as per regulation watering guidelines for this type of water.
“This system will work well and will give a good watering coverage of the oval,” Trevor said.
“It will link up to the Council’s computerised central control system, the same system that does the median strips and other football fields.”
CORING WORK: Council crews start the verti-drain process on Bennett Oval.
Council Project Manager for the redevelopment, Markus Dunatov said Greene Eden had done a good job installing the system to schedule and he was now looking forward to seeing the oval surface develop into an AFL and national cricket standard surface in the coming months.
“With this new watering system and the work Council crews are doing to fertilise, core and top dress the oval, we are going to see a fantastic transformation of this playing surface,” Markus said.
The oval work is one part of the Bennett Oval redevelopment that also includes the renovation of the grandstand changeroom facilities, new shower and toilet facilities, brand new bar and canteen facilities, lighting and general upgrade of the surrounds.
PREPARATIONS: Fertiliser is spread on Bennett Oval after the sprinklers were installed.
The redevelopment will have Bennett Oval ready for the Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs pre-season AFL match on March 7 next year. This Marsh Community Series pre-season match was made possible by the Gupta family sponsorship of Port Adelaide and was the catalyst for the redevelopment project.
Stage One of the Bennett Oval redevelopment has been assisted by a $890,850 State Government grant from the Grassroots Football, Cricket and Netball Facility Program (The Grassroots Program), administered through the Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing. Half of this money will go towards improvements at Memorial Oval.
Contributing to this grant was the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and the South Australia Cricket Association (SACA).
Subsequent stages of the Bennett Oval redevelopment would involve the integration of other sports and associated facilities into the area to create a greater sporting precinct.
Any enquiries on this project, or others, can be made by calling Council on 8640 3444 during office hours, by submitting a customer enquiry on our website http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx or via the free My Local Services app which can be downloaded at https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/mylocalservices
WHERE IT STARTED: The lilac irrigation pipes about to be installed at Bennett Oval