Orange City Council is committed to delivering the best playing fields in the city at the Orange Regional Sporting Precinct (ORSP).
There are eight playing fields at the centre of the precinct. All eight fields are made of the same material including turf, sand, sub-levels, irrigation and drainage.
Four of those fields are performing as expected and meeting high standards for a great surface. The other four fields (5 to 8) are not meeting that standard in relation to drainage.
The project is not finished and is still in hands of the contractor who is investigating cause and treatment. Council has set high performance standards the fields need to meet and that is what the contractor is working towards.
This is a complex project using organic material across a site close 84,000m2, which is more than five times the size of the Wade Park playing surface. Several steps have been taken and more are planned to achieve the desired level of field drainage. These refinements are underway during the planned establishment phase. Once fully grown in and finalised, the fields will deliver durable, premium-quality playing surfaces for Orange's athletes and community.
Council identified some issues around drainage last year and has undertaken assessments and testing and has received advice from experts.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said the process being followed was standard operating procedures.
"This is project management 101; identify an issue and work with the supplier, the contractor and experts in the field to deliver a solution. The aim at the start of the project was to deliver the best playing fields ever constructed in Orange and that plan has not changed," he said.
At times through the investigation assumptions about causes and remediation have been suggested.
Cr Mileto acknowledged there had been some issues to rectify and some commentary around the project.
"It is frustrating when a little bit of knowledge or information is used in isolation without proper context to question a project that is not yet finished," Cr Mileto said.
"We have a dedicated, highly skilled and professional team of Council staff managing this project. This team's focus and mine and my councillor colleagues is to deliver for the Orange community and we will not be distracted by assumptions being made about a project that isn't finished," he said.
The recommendation currently being investigated is additional treatments by the contractor may be needed.
At the ORSP, the soil profile for each field was carefully designed to provide excellent drainage, strong root development and consistent playing quality.
The fields include:
- Subgrade – shaped and compacted to form a stable platform.
- Drainage system – a network of pipes and trenches designed to move water away from the playing surface.
- Sand-based rootzone – imported sand mix blended with lime, gypsum, fertiliser and trace elements.
- Irrigation and fertigation – automated pumps, tanks and sprinklers to deliver water and nutrients.
- Turf establishment – Santa Ana couch turf carefully grown-in through mowing, aeration and topdressing.
Throughout establishment, the fields undergo testing for:
- Soil texture
- Soil density
- Drainage performance
- Moisture levels
- Turf health
These checks are normal, expected and essential. They help adjust the fields as the turf establishes and ensure the playing surfaces ultimately meet strict performance standards.
The NSW Government has committed $59.5 million and the Australian Government has committed $15 million to the Orange Regional Sporting Precinct project.
Image: Orange Mayor Tony Mileto and Council CEO
Scott Maunder assess the condition of the playing
fields on Wednesday after 45mm of rain fell overnight.
