On 15 December 2009, the Federal Member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten, officially opened the Keilor Park synthetic turf facility in Melbourne’s Brimbank City Council.
The facility comprises two FIFA standard soccer pitches, a cricket pitch, AFL goals, sports lighting for training and competition modes, as well as water harvesting infrastructure.
The Federal Government provided $1.4 million
in funding from the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) towards the $1.9 million project, with Brimbank City Council contributing the balance of funds.
“GreenFields Synthetic Turf Australia constructed the facility within the budget and on time, despite some challenging moments,” said Ken McBride, Sales and Marketing Manager for GreenFields. “September had unexpected healthy rainfall and November started with a string of exceptionally hot days, but we still managed to keep the project moving, which was pleasing to all concerned.
“Unlike many FIFA fields in Melbourne, this facility has underground drainage at five metre spacing and the patented GreenFields turf fibres are an extruded V-shaped monofilament fibre, which has a vein up the middle of it, similar to a natural piece of grass. This provides a central strength to the fibre for it to resist crushing underfoot and return to an upright position.
“Apart from appearing lifelike, this characteristic provides excellent ball roll and playing conditions.”
Ken McBride said GreenFields was announced as one of only six FIFA Licensees in the world to be raised to the status of FIFA Preferred Producer.
“This status brings with it extra responsibilities as a provider and greater security for our customers,” he said.
Brimbank Commissioner, Meredith Sussex, welcomed official guests to the opening, including the State Member for Keilor, George Seitz, Brendan Sheehan from Sport & Recreation Victoria, and a large number of representatives from local sporting clubs who are likely to benefit from the facility.
She said the synthetic playing fields will provide durable, year round, multi sport, and low maintenance ‘water free’ facilities that can be used by the community, clubs and schools for 60 to 80 hours per week.
“The new facility is expected to be a showcase example of industry best practice and we are especially pleased that these high standard recreational facilities are also environmentally friendly,” Meredith Sussex said.
“The use of synthetic surfaces is in line with principles of enhanced environmental sustainability and reduced water consumption that are important to Council.
“In addition, a 10,500 litre underground sump tank has been installed at the site to collect surface and subsurface water.
“Ultimately this will be used to pump the water to an extremely large capacity water storage area where it can be used on natural turf areas of Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.”
At the opening, students from a local primary school participated in a number of sporting activities on the field and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as did a number of the guests, some of whom tried their luck from the penalty spot.
*Copy supplied by GreenFields
