Bayside City Council continues to seek the support of local sporting clubs and schools for the remainder of the current winter sporting season.

The cumulative impact of the long term drought combined with state government’s water restrictions has meant the sportsgrounds – like others in Victoria – are generally in poorer condition than in previous years. However the work of Bayside City Council with clubs and associations to manage the extreme conditions has so far saved the community venues from even more damage.

Soccer grounds are generally in the poorest condition with only those grounds at Dendy Park and Beaumaris Reserve exempt for irrigation since spring 2008. Prior to this, Beaumaris Reserve was the only soccer venue irrigated following the introduction of State Government water restrictions in late 2007. The majority of Australian Rules football grounds are generally in better condition than soccer but continue to deteriorate as would normally be expected during the second half of winter season.

The arrival of spring, along with the recently installed automatic irrigation systems on several sportsgrounds, is bringing new hope for the health of these community facilities.

Condition of grounds

All grounds continue to be audited on a monthly basis.

The ground assessments consider grass coverage including presence of cool-season grasses, establishment, strength and vigour of the root system and surface evenness. Based on the assessment of any changes to overall conditions, ground usage recommendations are made.

The most recent audit of soccer pitches took place on 31 July. No significant improvements to the condition of playing surfaces was observed with some showing signs of wear and in a few cases grounds have further deteriorated since the last inspection on 1 July.

Ground availability

It is expected all sportsgrounds will remain available for all scheduled competition matches until the end of the season, and be available for all finals matches involving at least one Bayside-based club. Council’s priority is to provide facilities for community sport competition.

All sportsground use requests from schools have been processed and grounds allocated for the remainder of term three.

Most clubs and schools appreciate that Council is operating in the most extreme sportsground management conditions, and continue to be supportive of the measures in place to minimise wear and tear. Council is currently preparing its spring horticultural maintenance program as the sporting use changes from football and soccer to athletics, baseball and cricket. This may result in some grounds being temporarily unavailable for organised sport following the conclusion of the current winter clubs’ use in preparation of the summer users. Council appreciates the cooperation of sporting clubs, schools and the wider community during this important period.

FAQs

Q. Why are sportsgrounds in generally poorer condition this year?

A. Council's sportsgrounds are in poorer condition than in previous years. This is largely because of the cumulative impact of the long-term drought and State Government's water restrictions, combined with record heat and low rainfall throughout January and February which has continued to be the driest first six months of the year in Melbourne’s recorded history.

Council's annual autumn horticultural maintenance program was less effective in 2009 because of the above average warmth and drier weather. The establishment of the winter season grasses was much later than in typical years impacting on the current quality of sportsground surfaces.

Q. Why is the impact greatest on soccer grounds?

A. Up until earlier this year, only two of Bayside's 12 soccer venues had automatic irrigation systems. Only those soccer grounds at Dendy Park and Beaumaris Reserve have been irrigated since spring 2008, following the relaxation of water restrictions under Stage 3A. Prior to April 2008, only Beaumaris Reserve had been regularly irrigated. The remaining venues have been reliant on rainfall since 2006.

Q. What is Council doing in the long term to improve sportsground conditions?

A. Council recently installed automatic irrigation systems on soccer grounds at the Simpson Reserve (Hampton) and Castlefield (Hampton) Reserve. Council has funded systems at Spring Street oval (Sandringham) and Shipston Reserve (Cheltenham) in the 2009/10 budget. Council will continue to implement the program of planting warm season grasses (which require up to 40 per cent less water than cool season grasses) allocating $100,000 in the current financial year. Alternative water supplies are also being investigated to complement Council's potable water allocation for sportsground irrigation. Water tanks and associated plumbing will also be installed at some sportsgrounds that are intensively used.

For more information about Bayside’s sportsgrounds, submit an online enquiry form or phone 9599 4444.