Ten sporting fields across Newcastle will be better equipped to handle wet weather next winter thanks to a $500,000 investment into improved drainage being rolled out by City of Newcastle.
Work began this month on the sand grooving program, which is a cost-effective drainage solution that enhances the playing surface without major reconstruction.
Sand grooving at Mayfield ParkChair of the Sports Infrastructure Working Party Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said this program of works will take City of Newcastle's investment to more than $3.35 million on drainage and irrigation improvements over the past five years.
"We manage more than 150 sports fields and are committed to delivering high quality sporting facilities to meet the needs of our growing and active community," Cr Winney-Baartz said.
"Unfortunately, what we can't control is the horrible weather that has regularly hit the east coast of Australia the past few years.
"Newcastle experienced one of its wettest winters on record this year, with May receiving 300mm of rain which was three times the normal average, and August 290mm, which is more than triple what is usually the driest month of the year.
"The levels of rainfall forced the repeated postponement and cancellation of fixtures across a range of sporting codes.
"We continue to invest in projects to lessen the impact of both incredibly wet and overly dry weather on our sporting community and currently have 24 grounds with drainage as well as 25 irrigated grounds.
"Importantly we've invested in the maintenance of existing drainage infrastructure to ensure we get the maximum use out of our upgraded grounds.
"We remain committed to working with local sporting organisations to prioritise and deliver key projects in line with our Strategic Sports Plan and will continue to partner with the State and Federal Governments to secure grant funding."
The sand grooving program is being progressively rolled out at Wallsend Oval No.2, Mayfield Park, Gibbs Brothers Oval, Learmonth Oval No.2, Townson Oval, Darling Street Oval, Nesbitt Park, Lugar Park, Ford Oval and Harry Edwards Oval.
The technique involves cutting narrow trenches in the turf and backfilling them with washed sand to loosen the soil, creating a direct path for water to drain into an existing drainage system, reducing surface ponding.
City of Newcastle will also begin preparing drainage and irrigation designs for eight sports fields this financial year including Adamstown Park and Elermore Vale Reserve.
During the past five years, drainage improvements have been delivered across the city at grounds including National Park No.1, No.5 and No.6, Townson Oval at Merewether, Arthur Edden Oval at New Lambton, Myers Park at Adamstown and Johnson Park at Lambton.
New stormwater pits, subsoil drainage lines and irrigation enhancements were installed at Smith Park in Hamilton North while drainage designs have been completed at Harker Oval at New Lambton, Fletcher's Kurraka Oval, Novocastrian Park at New Lambton and Hamilton South's Darling Street Oval.
Drainage improvements were also incorporated into the recent masterplans adopted for Waratah Park and Adamstown Park.
Additional sportsgrounds identified for drainage upgrades will be included as part of the public exhibition for 2026/27 Council budget.
City of Newcastle remains committed to working with local sporting organisations to prioritise and deliver key upgrades and will continue to partner with the State and Federal Governments to secure grant funding.
