Page 2683 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021

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(3) How often are sports grounds and ovals mowed.

(4) What maintenance work and improvements are currently being done at sports grounds and ovals and can the Minister provide detail, cost and length of time for each project.

(5) How is maintenance work determined and prioritised.

(6) Given that Hall residents cannot play cricket on their sports ground as the pitch is too lumpy, can the Minister advise if this problem is being fixed; if so, when will the oval be fixed.

Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The 284 hectares of irrigated sportsgrounds are maintained by staff from the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS), Sport and Recreation Facilities (SRF) team. This team undertakes or arranges all required maintenance including mowing, irrigation, fertilising, turf renovation and maintenance of associated facilities such as pavilions and lighting. Maintenance such as mowing is undertaken year-round as required, while some more intensive maintenance is undertaken in the twice-yearly shutdown periods between the winter and summer seasons.

(2) Actual expenditure for the last three years is:

2018-2019

$38,884,729

2019-2020

$38,862,437

2020-2021

$39,208,722

2021-2022

$39,685,927 (Forecast Budget)

(3) Sportsgrounds are usually mown once a week or as needed in winter and twice a week in summer.

(4) In addition to routine maintenance, works are currently underway at: Curtin District Playing Fields irrigation and meter pit upgrade (cost $480,000, completion December 2021); Stirling water meter pit upgrades (cost $80,000, completion August 2021); Boomanulla Oval modular building upgrade (cost $500,000, completion December 2021). A program of further works for the upcoming financial year is being finalised.

(5) Maintenance seeks to provide safe and fit for purpose facilities. Maintenance work is prioritised and determined through advice from qualified greenkeepers within the SRF team, in light of identified needs and issues, feedback from users and sporting peak bodies and with consideration of the available budget. Improvements are prioritised based on asset condition, safety/risk considerations, usage levels, feedback from users and sporting peak bodies and in light of the available budget.

(6) The cricket facility at Hall consists of a concrete pitch in good condition and an outfield which is partly irrigated (part of the adjacent irrigated Hall Field 1) and partly dryland grass. The cricket facility is fit for its intended purpose for social/informal use rather than as a facility suitable for competition and no works are currently planned to this area.


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