With some of the regions sports fields remaining soggy after the recent floods MidCoast Council has been trialling innovative ways to keep them maintained.
Heavy equipment including tractors with slashers and zero-point mowers are usually used to keep growth under control, but the sheer weight of the machines causes damage to the playing surface.
Instead, staff have worked with local contractors to use lightweight robotic mowers which are operated remotely.
These machines are considerably lighter resulting in less damage to the regions playing fields.
Council's Executive Manager of Public Spaces, Liam Bulley, said the machines have allowed crews to maintain fields resulting in play returning much sooner.
"These machines only weigh 300 kilograms which greatly reduces the impact on the fields," he explained.
"From the first trial we have seen great success and will continue to apply this practice to grounds that are unable to be serviced using traditional cutting methods.
"Fields in Bulahdelah, Coolongolook, Nabiac and Johhny Martin Oval in Taree have been too wet to mow at all this sporting season are now scheduled for maintenance using this lightweight mower.
"This has improved the turnaround on recovery of our fields, and we are now seeing fields becoming available for use sooner."
