CV Kelly Sports Field
CV Kelly Sports Field is a multipurpose field that is home to local leagues and the Cumberland City community. The facility includes a 100-metre track separate from the circular track, two discus cages, two shot circles and four long jump pits.
The Park was renovated to address longstanding drainage issues while ensuring the playing surface remains safe, resilient and accessible for ongoing community use.
The Brief
After a year of prolonged wet weather and constant ground closures, Cumberland City Council had a vision to provide a reliable, free-draining sports field drainage system that ensured year-round community use and a quicker return to play.
The role of our turf team was to carry out the project with attention and care, ensuring a safe and resilient surface and a quicker return to play after adverse conditions for local sporting groups and community members.
The CV Kelly Sports Field Drainage Overhaul
Our turf renovation team carried out the installation of an engineered slit drainage system with mainlines, collector lines, and stormwater connection, as well as sand grooving works to improve the heavy soil profile. Despite the project being delivered under heavy rainfall and increased weather conditions, the project was delivered with an accelerated program whilst maintaining safety and uncompromised workmanship.
The project stands as a strong community asset, grounded in local sporting and social initiatives that strengthens connection and social cohesion.
An Adaptable Delivery
This project took place under one of the wettest August periods on record. The heavy rainfall created difficult excavation conditions and risk delays. We delivered the CV Kelly sports field project by sequencing trenching and reinstatement within the same day, implementing robust erosion and sediment controls to protect the environment, and allocating additional resources. Furthermore, the approach included strict wet-weather access controls to protect turf integrity, and daily inspections to manage sediment and runoff.
This enabled our team to execute an accelerated delivery program ensuring safety, adaptability, and uncompromised quality despite extreme conditions. Our adaptability resulted in creating a safer and more resilient community sports field.
The Pluses We Brought To This Project
Challenges
- Wet weather conditions – heavy rainfall at CV Kelly sports field throughout the program created difficult excavation conditions and risked delays.
Fun Facts
- Our new drainage system protects and enhances the ecological aspects of the park.
- The local sports hub is set for a $2.5 million upgrade to feature gender-inclusive amenities.
- The ground has been primarily used for a rugby league field for the last 70 years and athletics for the last 30 years.
Project Partners
- Client: Cumberland City Council
Community Engagement
- The sports field is home to two athletics clubs and one rugby league club which has regularly attracted youths and families to access and utilise the park weekly. The new drainage system offers the clubs a reliable field to train and better their athletes consistently.
What They Say
The Billabong Parklands will offer the people of Campbelltown a new and unique public space with a range of fun activities for people of all ages. With activities like water play, landscaped areas and parklands, as well as a swimming lagoon and zero-depth play area for those with young families. “
Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces,
NSW Government