Sports Surfaces and Facilities Advisory Services and Solutions

smartconnection.net.au

A Connected Team of Smart Collaborators with One Vision

To provide quality outcomes, facilities and solutions which assist our clients to grow participation in sport and active recreation

Innovation Through Collaboration

Innovation [in¦nov|ation]

Noun transformation · metamorphosis · breakthrough · new measures · new methods · modernization · novelty · newness · creativity · originality · ingenuity · inspiration · inventiveness · a shake up Collaboration [col|lab¦or|ation ]

Noun the action of working with someone to produce or create something Vision [vi·sion ]

Noun foresight - the capacity to envisage future market trends and plan accordingly; Goal, a desired result

Our Goal

Share innovation through collaboration to support our clients’ vision by creating, transforming and enhancing perceptions from products, processes and outputs to outcomes that inspire future generations Who We Are

Smart Connection Consultancy and our Collaborators offer an innovative and cohesive approach that deliver outcomes to enhance the experience of participation in physical activity, recreation and sport in local communities.

The Smart Team supports our clients on all aspects of planning, procuring, installing, managing and maintaining sports surfaces and associated facilities. Sports surfaces include natural, hybrid and synthetic, as well as rubber and hard surfaces.

Smart Connection Consultancy are the Technical Consultants for the Australian Rugby Union, the National Rugby League, AFL (NSW/ ACT) and Football NSW for Synthetic Surfaces.

Since 2010 Smart Connection Consultancy has been at the forefront of $50m of synthetic sports turf being produced in Australia for local government, including 28 football pitches, including 5 with cricket wickets, 2 AFL ovals, 2 Rugby Union Fields and markings for 1 Rugby League field. Our Collaborators Ground Science is Australia’s premier environmental and geotechnical sports field testing organisation. Ground Science is Australia’s premier sports field testing organisation with a key focus on geotechnical and environmental engineering. Specialising in both synthetic and natural sports field project systems. The critical aspect for any sports field project is to ensure that there is an engineered base design appropriate to the geology and environmental constraints to ensure its sustainability. The first step of any project is to understand the geotechnical issue and potential for contaminated soils to affect the viability of the project.

Sporteng are experts in the planning, design and construction supervision of sport fields. Blending engineering with specialist knowledge gained from working

closely with Sport governing bodies, stadium curators, sport planners and architects ensures SportEng can provide leading edge technical advice for all forms of Field of Play.

DCE specialises in urban development, infrastructure and sport. DCE has become one of the most recognisable firms in the provision of innovative civil engineering design and project management. With a commitment to world's best practice, DCE is an industry leader in technological innovation and currently works with some of Australia's largest property developers, water authorities and sporting associations.

Sports and leisure architects with a difference Award winning architects that integrate sustainability, quality around functionality to create places that are better connected to the local community .

Renowned global synthetic sports surface specialist who is sought after by many of the worlds leading International Sports Federations to guide them on the best approach to integrating synthetic surfaces technology with natural surfaces.

Fields of Expertise Collaboratively we provide our clients with surface, a development site, a facility and all high level quality service that is offered for an combinations. affordable investment.  Maintenance of Sports Turf Providing advice and solutions at each stage Ensuring that the assets are being maintained of the process for our clients we offer a properly to optimise life expectancy. comprehensive scope of services, including:  Management Best Practice  Knowledge Sharing Identifying how to maximise usage, Providing knowledge on sports surfaces, programming and cooperative management through tailored workshops, industry with numerous stakeholders. masterclasses, national conferences, publications and study tours.

 Feasibility Studies Exploring the demands for sports in a geographical area, then analysing the different surface options, architectural designs, which are current and possible, together with site comparisons to provide strategic decision making.

 Master planning and Business Case Focussing on a single venue/facility exploring community visions, stakeholder needs, integration into the local landscape, together with the business case for the whole of life costings and a possible revenue funding strategy to achieve desires. Surfaces, facilities, stadia, pavilions, road works and full design options

 Procurement and Project Management Designing which can include funding mechanisms, project management and managing each stage of the procurement process. We have the expertise for a sports “Smart Connection Consultancy's knowledge and insights to the industry has guided us to an achievable design and a streamlined procurement process. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to others.” (Sydney Council) Knowledge Sharing

We are committed to providing leading edge can contextualise the opportunity and advice and knowledge so that the industry and strategically consider options. our clients can appreciate how synthetic sports Our approach provides rigor and we use turf can complement their natural turf options. independent research as a base to ensure Collectively we are totally committed to that the most appropriate options are providing leading edge advice and knowledge determined. to industry so that our clients can appreciate Our services and commitments for 2016 the best sports surface solutions and designs include: required to meet their needs.  National Sports Convention — Growing Our commitment extends to providing every participation, play, Sports Turf and leisure local Council, state and territory government, facilities (Sydney, June 2016) national and state sports organisations in  Planning and facility development Australia with a complimentary copy of The workshops — tailored to client needs Smart Guide to Synthetic Sport Surfaces (3rd  Business case workshops — linked to Edition). Our latest publications that are Whole of Life Asset management available include: costing strategies and income  Smart Guide to Maintaining Synthetics generation strategies Sports Turf (Long Pile), 2015  Sports participation growth strategies  Smart Guide to Deciding Between Natural, — linked to synthetic and natural Hybrid and Synthetic Sports Turf, Feb surfaces 2016  Sports surface best practice tours — We offer the industry and our client’s advice, see the surfaces actually play mentoring and knowledge sharing so they

Feasibility Studies

Exploring the need for a specific type of sports  Funding solutions with major lending surface is critical to any Feasibility Study. We institutes compare supply with demand needs, and then  Architectural design and costings use the Smart Decision Matrix to identify the type of surface that best suites clients specific We understand the use of supply modelling needs. That could include natural, hybrid or by using demographics of the local synthetic sports turf or rubber, natural or hard community, the needs and the court surfaces. opportunities for activating and retaining Completing a Business Case to justify the need them in sport and active recreation which is of a synthetic surface can be streamlined by paramount for a Feasibility Study or using our Smart Whole of Life Costing Model, Business Case. we can support clients in developing financial Our supply and demand modelling is critical strategies, funding applications and where in determining the needs for sports applicable offer funding packages with major facilities, including: financial institutes.  Supply and demand analysis Our offering includes:  Community consultation options  Financial strategy development to  Whole of Life Costings address WOL costings  Funding applications for government  Revenue Funding stream analysis to grants offset the expenditure Designs which are easy to understand and allow you to achieve your goals Master Planning and Business Case

We will work with you in exploring the site parameters and constraints together with the opportunities to ascertain the best design and management options for your park or venue. We can offer a experienced and skilled team for natural turf, hybrid, synthetic , rubber or hard sports surfaces Our collaboration can offer:

 Stakeholder consultation and technical approval  Concept design options and strategy  3D design and fly through options  Geotech analysis and site assessment  Councilor presentations  Cost estimate for concept design We can mentor your team to understand how to best manage the facilities once built, as this is vital if the funding is based on your organisation’s ability to generate revenue. We can support program development and provide advice on how to maximise the balance between club, school, commercial and your own programs, including:

 Program development strategies  Price benchmarking  Performance reviews

We support our clients in the planning phase to ensure that the strategic and management outcomes are delivered

Procurement and Project Management

We can provide procurement and project Our sport and civil engineering management solutions for all projects collaborators provide the detailed hold including: and witness points to ensure that every step of the installation meets the  Natural, hybrid and synthetic turf appropriate civil and performance  Sports surfaces (e.g. tracks and netball courts) standards, including:  Stadia, pavilions and built facilities  Site inspections and reports  Geotech advice and environmental  Witness and critical hold points solutions  Respond to construction RFI’s

 Attend practical completion and defect inspections

 Geotech and contamination assessments

 Site assessments and conditional audits

With over 20 years’ experience in procurement Our architectural collaborators have and in collaboration with SportEng, Ground procured and project managed many Science and Dalton Consulting Engineers we sports facilities including: offer a full procurement service, including:  Canterbury Park Oval Pavilion

 Procurement strategy development  Holm Park Netball facilities  EOI and RFT document development  Ballarat Regional Soccer facility  Design and Construct or Detailed Design options  Tender evaluation facilitation  Comprehensive tender evaluation tools — to ensure a rigorous and transparent process to procure the best product which is fit for purpose and achieves best value for the community

Management Best Practice

Balancing Usage Developing Revenue Strategies to Cover Identifying how to balance usage on natural, Costs hybrid and synthetic sports surfaces is more As part of a management strategy we can than an art there is a science to it. support our clients in the development of a revenue strategy to offset the operational We work with clients to understand their costs of facilities and including the conflicting priorities season by season establishment of sinking fund models. between daytime, evening and weekend usage, for a single sport or for multi-sport facilities.

One of the secrets is addressed when we are conducting our Business Case Study where we really try and understand how the fields Management Options are to be used and then we can design them There are many options for managing sports accordingly facilities and Smart Connection Consultancy are experienced in exploring the options for From that understanding we can provide clients from direct management, leases, support and advice on how to balance licenses agreements and contracting out of programming, usage constraints and even facilities. how to maximise your return on synthetic surfaces.

Maintenance of Sports Turf

With thousands of synthetic sports fields being Combining the authors’ experience with installed globally, it is important that to evidence from testing laboratories and maximise the opportunity to achieve each International Federations who have field’s life expectancy that it is well maintained. experienced the impacts of limited or no Short-term benefits of an appropriate maintenance, negative outcomes are maintenance program include: identified,:

 Enhanced playability – ensuring it can  Unable to achieve re-certification maintain the performance standards it against sports performance standards; was installed against;  Reduced life expectancy;  Aesthetically optimised appearance;  Increased safety concerns;  Safety achieved and risk management  Dilapidation of product; and mitigated; and  Voiding of warrantee.  Compliance with manufacturer’s warranty requirements. To avoid these negative outcomes Smart Connection Consultancy offer services to Smart Connection Consultancy and Alastair Cox assist clients who have synthetic fields Associates have combined their experience and including: co-authored The Smart Guide to Maintaining  Maintenance workshops and practical Synthetic Sports Turf (Long Pile), 2015. To sessions; access your free copy contact our office.  Annual reviews of fields to identify any This Guide has been developed for the growing defects and issues that need to be number of sports, education establishments, addressed; commercial operations and local governments  Independent expert opinion; and who are installing synthetic sports fields for various sports and recreational facilities and  Facilitation with the maintenance may benefit from an increased understanding of company to optimise the maintenance why maintenance is important and what outcomes. commitments should be made. When the correct maintenance is not carried out by the field owners the life expectancy can be significantly reduced.

“Smart Connection Consultancy has been an invaluable source of information for both the federation and our affiliated clubs. Martin specifically has responded to requests at short notice, provided valuable insights and produced quality pieces of work that haves allowed the football community to achieve deadlines and desired outcomes – we will certainly be using him again”.

Chris Brophy, CFO/Business Support Manager – Football Federation Victoria Our Clients

Our Clients

We have successfully completed a significant number of sports performance standards reviews, sports strategies, master plans, feasibility studies, business cases and procurement projects. We estimate over 70% of all the synthetic sports fields have been completed by Smart Connection Consultancy and our Collaborators . Our client base includes: Local Governments International Federations Victoria – more than 50 partners including: Cities  FIH of Cardinia, Monash, Whittlesea, Knox, Moonee  FIFA Valley, Melbourne, Banyule, Melton, Kingston,  World Rugby (IRB) Bayside, Stonington, Wyndham, Boroondara, and Shires of Yarra Ranges and Surf Coast. National and State Sports Organisations

 National Rugby League NSW & ACT — more than 25 partners including: Cities of Marrickville, Campbelltown, Willoughby,  Australian Rugby Union Warringah, North Sydney, Port Stephens, Ryde,  Golf Australia Sutherland Shire and ACT Department of Sport  Australian Sports Commission and Recreation.

 Hockey ACT Qld & WA – more than 10 partners including:

 Capital Football Moreton Bay Regional Council and City of Swan.

 Football Federation Victoria Others – organisations include: Macarthur Football Association, Delfin Lend Lease, Veneto Club, Monash University, Southern Cross University, Queensland University of Technology and University of Queensland. Martin Sheppard - Smart Connection Consultancy

An experienced industry facilities; leader and advocate for  Promotion of environmentally friendly increasing opportunities synthetic surface technical solutions, for adults and juniors to including water harvesting, recreate and play sport. environmentally friendly infill’s and Passionate about green engineering practices; ensuring that built  Published award winning Smart Guides; facilities are both sustainable and functional.  Initiated and co-promoted the National Martin clearly understands strategic and Synthetic Surfaces Conference and political needs and outcomes, whilst also Expo (2013 and 2014) with the support providing tactical and innovative solutions at of FIFA/IRB and world class partners. grass roots. An international speaker whose

expertise is recognised for aligning the “Over the last four years the relationship technology around hybrid and synthetic the City has built with Smart Connection surfaces, facility development, with player Consultancy has become integral to the pathways, supply and demand forecasting and development of our public open space participation strategies. planning, most notably the Ellenbrook Martin has worked in the sport, active District Open Space, which includes four recreation and leisure industry for 35 years, synthetic playing fields. managing a diverse portfolio of facilities Smart Connection Consultancy has including leisure centres, sports facilities, parks contributed in many ways including and open spaces, athletic tracks, synthetic various studies, reports and research sports fields, golf courses. tours that we continue to use today. The He has been involved on some of the industry’s work has been outstanding: on time, on most innovative Australian projects over the budget and most importantly of a very past eight years including: high quality.

 Procurement and project management of Martin has been very accommodating in FIFA 1 and 2 Star pitches; hockey national its approach to our requirements and standard fields; AFL/Cricket Australia continues to go out of their way to help fields; IRB Regulation 22 pitches and multi us where necessary – always going that -sports fields; extra mile.” Wayne Stuart, Facilities Planning Coordinator, Asset  Participation and growth strategies for Management – City of Swan sport;

 Rigorous business case planning - on how to manage, program and optimise

Theo Kerlidis, k20 Architecture - Director

Theodore has been a process of delivering key ideas and concepts. Director of k20 Theodore has extensive community and Architecture since its government experience, and has led projects inception in 2001, and which have involved multiple stakeholders has over 15 years and extensive community consultation. experience in designing Theodore offers creative, skilled, responsive community buildings and mature design outcomes in line with client with a focus on design creativity and briefs and budgets. He has lead projects sustainability. through all phases from scoping & feasibility, He brings a high level management style to business case modelling, design, his projects whilst being diplomatic and documentation and coordination through to proactive. Through his partnering approach project completion. he enables all parties to be included in the process of delivering key ideas and concepts. Theodore has extensive community and government experience, and has led projects which have involved multiple stakeholders and extensive community consultation.

Theodore offers creative, skilled, responsive k20 Architecture recent award winning and mature design outcomes in line with projects have included the Port Melbourne client briefs and budgets. He has lead projects Football Club Sporting and Community Facility. through all phases from scoping & feasibility, business case modelling, design, In addition pavilion designs for over a dozen documentation and coordination through to other facilities show how integration of project completion. Theodore has been a architecture into the local environment can Director of k20 Architecture since its inception produce sustainable returns for the in 2001, and has over 15 years experience in community. designing community buildings with a focus on design creativity and sustainability. He brings a high level management style to his projects whilst being diplomatic and proactive. Through his partnering approach he enables all parties to be included in the Alastair Cox, Alastair Cox Associates - Director

Alastair Cox Associates is on time, on budget and with an attention to an independent detail that ensures the highest quality result; consulting firm we are sure we can help you, please contact us specialising in sports for the best impartial advice available. surfaces, sports facilities Providing Advice on a range of subjects and sports equipment. including: Headed by Alastair Cox, an internationally  Sports’ governing body standards and recognised expert, the Company provides competition regulations impartial advice to sports governing bodies,  The testing of sports surfaces and sports trade associations, sports clubs, municipalities equipment and education facilities on the performance  Selecting the appropriate sports surface for and quality of professional, educational and a particular facility recreational sports facilities. These include  Sports facility construction / tender football, hockey and rugby pitches, running specifications tracks, netball and tennis courts, and indoor  European Standards for sports surfaces and gymnasium sports halls. equipment  European regulations applying to sports For over 35 years Alastair Cox has been surfaces and equipment instrumental in developing performance  Maintenance of sports surfaces standards for sports surfaces, working closely  Condition surveys of existing facilities with many international and national sports  Failure analysis and diagnosis governing bodies. The Company now provides  Expert witness and dispute resolution guidance on measuring and assessing the performance and quality of sports surfaces, selecting the correct sports surface for a facility, facility design and procurement, on-site construction supervision, performance testing and maintenance. Our mission is to ensure high quality sports surfaces that enhance performance and stand the test of time.

Clients come to us because of our international reputation. We are known for independence and integrity, our ability to complete projects Jarrod Hill, SportEng - Director

Jarrod is a Civil Engineer  Footscray Hockey Facility Wet Pitch(Vic) with SportEng, who is well  Stead Park Second Hockey Pitch (Vic)  Dubbo Second Hockey Pitch (NSW) known for his expertise in Athletics Running Tracks the planning and  Lakeside Stadium State Athletics Facility development of sport and (Vic)  Santos Stadium State Athletics Facility recreation facilities. These facilities include (SA) athletics running tracks, hockey fields,  2006 Commonwealth Games / MCG (Vic) football grounds (all codes) and general  Bunbury Regional Athletics Facility (WA) purpose facilities.  Casey Fields Regional Athletics Facility (Vic) Jarrod's expertise is based on knowledge of  Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre (QLD)  Centennial Park Athletics Track specialist engineering applications and a Reconstruction (NSW detailed understanding of athlete and facility/ Miscellaneous venue owner requirements.  National Tennis Centre (ACT)  RFC Punt Road Oval Redevelopment (Vic) Jarrod's knowledge of the planning, design  Ross Straw Baseball Backstop Net (Vic) and construction of sports and recreation  Blackburn concrete velodrome condition assessment (Vic) facilities has seen him work on most of the “I have worked with Jarrod on a variety of major sport projects throughout Australia in projects over many years including stadium recent years. fields of play (multiple sporting codes), elite training centre fields and community use Relevant Project Experience fields. The end results have always been Stadiums great, which I believe is due to a  Adelaide Oval Redevelopment (SA) combination of Jarrod's expertise and his  Singapore Sports Hub (Singapore) ability to listen to and work collaboratively  Perth Stadium Tender Design (WA) with his clients.”  Manuka Oval Redevelopment (ACT)  Metricon Stadium Redevelopment (QLD) Andrew Travis - CEO Gold Coast Suns  AAMI Park Development (Vic) (previously Director of Infrastructure  NIB Stadium Redevelopment (WA) Hockey Pitches  State Victorian Hockey Pitch (Vic)  Distinctive Homes Hockey Arena (SA) Tony Obouhoff, DCE - Director

Tony provides project management of various sports field Dalton Consulting developments and recreational facilities. Engineers (DCE) with experience in Heavily involved in drought-proofing sporting civil engineering, and racing venues, DCE has utilised the design and plan Water Sensitive Urban Design expertise production for road and drainage works, within the firm to establish water saving sewer and water reticulation, site earthworks techniques that will benefit sporting clubs and other related projects. and associations for years to come.

Tony has five years previous experience at DCE's Sporting expertise extends to the VicRoads with experience on highways, following core areas: freeways, rest areas and ancillary works. He also has several years working experience in  Thoroughbred racing land development, with specific experience  Greyhound racing in subdivisions in private enterprise and also  Athletic tracks many varied local government infrastructure  Recreation infrastructure projects.  Sports master-planning  Synthetic sports fields

Tony has managed all of DCE’s synthetic sports projects with DCE becoming involved with synthetics back in 2006. Working within a specialised area of sport, DCE has quickly become a recognisable presence in both the greyhound and thoroughbred racing industries. In addition to this, the company has received industry recognition for the design and Ernie Gmehling, Ground Science - Managing Director

to turf growing media, soil stability, cricket wicket soils, mine backfill designs and more. Ernie’s passion lies in delivering practical solutions to clients in a manner that the client feels supported throughout the experience. Sports field engineering is very unique and it is common for geotechnical consultants to over design or fail to have a true understanding of this engineering field. With extensive Ernie Gmehling is the company’s Managing experience in both forensic auditing of Director and has over thirty years’ experience problem fields and detailed knowledge in the industry. through our vast research experience. Ernie is a well-respected member of the Ground Science has extensive experience in geotechnical industry who has been a designing appropriate fill platforms for member of the Australian Standards CE009 synthetic playing fields in weak and reactive soils committee since 2006, is a foundation soils. It is common for turf field once member of the Victorian Construction constructed over swampy ground, old land fill Materials Laboratory Association currently sites and deep uncontrolled fill areas to be holding the position of Secretary, is a NATA converted into a synthetic pitch. While the site technical assessor, has written several was a turf field, undulations or settlements are training modules for technical colleges in the not readily sighted and depressions may be industry and is a regular presenter at a variety top dressed to fill low points. of National and State conferences. He actively Synthetic fields are constructed to very tight participates in many associations including tolerances and minor settlements are easily the STA, FFSV, HEDRA and ALDE. seen from the side lines. An appropriate fill Ernie’s expertise includes: platform design is required based on soil types and drainage characteristics rather than ability  Geotechnical engineering to support traffic loadings.

 Field investigations

 A diverse skill set in Laboratory testing

 Internationally experienced in sport field profile design & testing techniques

 Research projects in synthetic amendments SPORT INSPIRES A NATION Synthetic Sport Surfaces Create Opportunities For The Next Generation

Smart Connection Consultancy Pty Ltd AAMI Park, Ground Level East 60 Olympic Park Boulevard, Melbourne, Victoria 3001 PO Box 5247 South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205

E: [email protected] W: www.smartconnection.net.au T: +61 3 9421 0133