ARENASARENAS In December 2016 HG Sports Turf installed its Eclipse Stabilised Turf system at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The new surface had its first outing on New Year’s Day with an A-League clash between the Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United IcingIcing onon thethe CakeCake TinTin PHOTOS COURTESY OF HG SPORTS TURF AND WESTPAC STADIUM TURF AND WESTPAC OF HG SPORTS PHOTOS COURTESY Affectionately dubbed the estpac Stadium, or Wellington Regional adequate to cater for international events due to its In addition to sporting events, Westpac Stadium stabilisation or reinforcement. This combined with Stadium, is a major sporting venue in age and location. A new stadium was also needed regularly hosts major events and concerts. Shortly an ever-increasing events strategy, and the need for ‘Cake Tin’ by the locals, W Wellington, New Zealand which was to provide a larger-capacity venue for One Day after opening in 2000, it hosted the Edinburgh the stadium to be a multi-functional events space for officially opened in early 2000. Residing one International cricket matches, due to the city’s Basin Military Tattoo, the first time the event was held sports and non-sports events, meant it needed a turf Westpac Stadium in New kilometre north of the Wellington CBD on reclaimed Reserve ground losing such matches to larger outside of Edinburgh, Scotland, while in 2006 it system that would be up to the challenge. railway land, it was constructed to replace Athletic stadia in other parts of the country. hosted WWE’s first ever New Zealand show in front HG Sports Turf (HGST), which had previously Zealand’s capital Wellington Park, the city’s long-standing rugby union venue. Now in existence for 16 years, the 34,000 of 23,875 spectators. It also played a bit part in undertaken major projects at other New Zealand The 12m x 1m turf rolls were Athletic Park held a unique place in the New capacity Westpac Stadium has become one of New the Lord of the Rings film trilogy after film director stadiums such as Eden Park (Auckland), Waikato installed within 12 hours of being recently underwent a major Zealand sporting landscape. In addition to boasting Zealand’s premier multi-purpose venues. It is the Peter Jackson recorded 30,000 fans during a 2002 Stadium (Hamilton) and AMI Stadium (Christchurch), harvested. The turf was grown at a one of the steepest grandstands in the country home of the Wellington Lions Mitre 10 Cup rugby Black Caps ODI against England chanting in ‘Black was one of three companies to tender for the job purpose built nursery in Auckland surface upgrade for the (the famed Millard Stand), it was the ground’s team as well as the aptly named Hurricanes Super Speech’. This was then used as the sound of 10,000 and was appointed in early 2016. and transported 8.5 hours to exposure to the elements which gave it folklore Rugby team. chanting Uruk-hai during the Battle of Helm’s Deep The first task was to source an appropriate Wellington first time since its opening status. Wellington is renowned for its gale force The stadium also hosts the Wellington Sevens, in ‘The Two Towers’. site to grow the company’s patented Eclipsed winds and it was something of a rite of passage one of the legs in the annual HSBC Rugby Sevens Stabilised Turf system and it was ultimately decided in 2000. HG Sports Turf’s to attend a rugby game atop of the Millard in the World Series, and regularly hosts All Blacks rugby CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT to establish a purpose-built nursery in Auckland. middle of winter with an Antarctica-fuelled southerly matches. It is also home ground for A-League Over the years the Westpac Regional Stadium Although some 650 kilometres and an 8.5 hour drive Erik Kinlon looks back at blowing in off nearby Cook Strait. soccer team Wellington Phoenix FC, with the home Trust (WRST), which oversees the management of away, Auckland was chosen for its more favourable Athletic Park was the site of one of the All Blacks’ fans dubbing the ground ‘The Ring of Fire’. During the stadium, has made continual improvements to growing conditions during the winter months. the project and some of its most improbable Test wins over a touring France the summer the stadium also hosts international and the venue to keep it up to a standard to rival New The nursery was planted in April 2016 with two side in 1961. With winds gusting up to 140kph occasionally domestic limited overs cricket. Zealand’s other major venues. As part of that, in varieties of ryegrass – Centurion and Colosseum. unique challenges. during the match, All Black ‘super boot’ Don Clarke The stadium has also been used for rugby early 2016 it announced that it would be upgrading Both varieties were sourced from PGG Wrightson managed to nail a sideline conversion to win the league matches, including national team fixtures the playing surface for the first time since its New Zealand and chosen by Westpac Stadium match 5-3. What made his conversion famous was and New Zealand Warriors away fixtures. In recent opening. based on their agronomic performance and, in that he effectively kicked the ball along what is now years, Melbourne-based AFL club St. Kilda played The existing surface was natural ryegrass particular, winter activity for the local climate. the 22m line and watched the wind swing it 90 three ‘home’ games at the stadium against Sydney, which over time had developed a significant Poa HGST employed the services of an Auckland- degrees and through the uprights! Brisbane and Carlton as part of the Anzac Day annua population along with high organic matter based contractor to oversee the nursery, with Despite such memorable moments, over the round. Most recently it hosted matches during the content which made management of the surface guidance provided to ensure that all programming, years Athletic Park gradually became more and 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2015 Cricket World increasingly challenging. The stadium had not maintenance, reporting and testing was conducted s more run down and was no longer considered Cup. previously had any technology in terms of pitch in accordance with the company’s requirements. s 28 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 19.1 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 29 Name: FLAME_SYN3264 ATM Summer Fungicide Range Ad 17-305 287x210 Vivian Cosson (account service) Size: 287Hmm x 210Wmm Date: 11.01.17 | Round: FINAL [email protected] | +61 2 9402 7674 | flame.com.au Note: While Flame™ has taken great care in preparing this artwork responsibility for the printed artwork and copy accuracy lies with the client. The printer is responsible for checking artwork before plates are made, accuracy in measurements, plates tolerance requirements, registration and construction detailing. Any questions please contact flame before proceeding with the job. Copyright 2016 Flame. ARENASARENAS Engineering were engaged to assist with the design Stewart MacFarlane rolls and production of all final as-built drawings. the 8th green ahead of the On Sunday 4 December the resurfacing opening round began in earnest with the existing surface stripped and disposed of over a five day period. Running concurrently with this was the construction of a Download new synthetic ring road around the perimeter of the playing surface, with the base construction taking seven days. An approved synthetic turf system and performance infill was then installed over the course of the following three days. The profile of the main playing surface included 40mm of Eclipse Stabilised Turf above a further 250mm sand layer and 100mm gravel layer. Following removal of the old surface, further trimming of the sand surface layer was required to remove organic darkening of the sand. This was to ensure that infiltration rates were not affected s The existing ryegrass surface was SHAKEN BUT NOT STIRRED and remove the potential for reduced agronomic stripped and disposed of over a five With the nursery growing nicely and well on track, performance of the new turf. In total, 240 tonnes day period starting 4 December 2016 a few weeks out from the project start date there of locally sourced compatible sand was tested, was an unexpected spanner thrown into the works. chosen, placed and consolidated to get to the On 14 November a 7.8 magnitude earthquake design levels required. Leading fungicides and Running concurrently with the struck near Kaikoura approximately 150km south Installation of the Eclipse Stabilised Turf started removal of the old surface was the east of Wellington. Due to its proximity to the on 15 December and finished ahead of schedule on construction of a new ring road epicentre, Wellington felt some significant effects 21 December. With the nursey a substantial distance followed by the installation of an of the earthquake, especially the city’s port which away, HGST engaged an Auckland-based logistics superior application will keep approved synthetic turf system and suffered subsidence. That created a number of company to transport the turf from Auckland, with performance infill logistical issues with the mobilising of materials a total of 44 truckloads delivering 15,400m2 of turf. and equipment for the project, not to mention the The turf was on the ground in the stadium within 12 you covered this summer ongoing concerns of the aftershocks, some of which hours of harvest. measured 5.5. The turf rolls were 12m long x 1m wide laid in a We understand the extreme pressure you’re under during the peak playing season and Fortunately the stadium, which was specifically longitudinal direction with WMI tracked big roll turf we can help provide you with peace of mind that your turf stands up to the challenge.