The dual demands of encouraging sports participation and reducing water usage is creating a facility provision challenge across all spheres of government, sport and industry peak bodies.
It is becoming apparent that we simply cannot continue to water our sporting grounds to the level required to maintain safe play.
With this in mind, many councils and sports organisations are eager to explore both synthetic alternatives and natural enhancements, so that they can continue to provide for sport in their community.
Since its emergence in 1965, there has been a significant evolution in synthetic grass surfaces.
Most recently, third generation products are designed to be more natural looking and to perform more closely to natural turf than any synthetic surfaces to date.
This, combined with the need to conserve water, support infrastructure and enhance community benefit, has made synthetic surfaces a credible alternative.
Synthetic sports surfaces are becoming more commonly used throughout Australia by schools, universities, sporting clubs, associations, peak bodies and Local and State Governments. They are even now endorsed by insurance companies.
The benefits are many and varied, including:
- synthetic surfaces possibly being used
around 60 hours per week, assuming it is
a floodlit facility, whereas high quality
natural turf surfaces can generally only
sustain 20 to 25 hours of weekly usage
before significant deterioration occurs - weather having limited impact on synthetic
surfaces, so it can be used year round and is
not weather dependent - maintaining a natural turf surface can be time consuming, expensive and resource
intensive, often requiring qualified personnel,
while synthetic surfaces require lower
ongoing and less intensive maintenance
regimes.
However, benefits need to be balanced with the more complex areas of perception, including the perceived ‘loss’ of true open space, concerns over safety and, of course, initial capital cost.
A synthetic surface is not the answer for everyone and the decision to install should not be taken lightly.
Smart Connection Company provides consultancy advice on anything from needs and feasibility analysis to funding and project management.
They worked with councils, State Government and peak bodies in this area, and have developed a free ‘Synthetics Fact Sheet’, which is a perfect start for any organisation considering the alternatives to turf or planning how they will best provide playing surfaces in the future.
To obtain your free copy, simply contact Gary Topp on garyt@smartconnection.com.au
*Copy supplied by Smart Connection Company
