17 June 2010

ANU Astroturfing

| johnboy
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ANU is proudly announcing that they’ve replaced the grass on the Willows Oval with a synthetic turf:

Willows Oval at ANU has been fitted with the latest synthetic grass technology to create two new environmentally friendly, world-class playing fields.

The oval has received accreditation from the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and also meets the playing standards for international hockey, international rugby, the AFL and Cricket Australia.

ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Chubb said: “The FIFA two-star rating means that Willows Oval mirrors the playing conditions of the highest level of professional soccer. You could play the World Cup on this surface.”

Apparently the surface now collects water rather than requiring it.

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turfsupplycanberra5:32 pm 12 Jul 15

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I would have thought that they would use the same technology as Hawker. If not, then yes they have skimped on the cost.

The synthetic surfaces that use the small rubber pellets within the blades of artificial grass are much more forgiving and friendlier on the knees and elbows. Also feels more natural underfoot so easier on the ankles as well.

I have played on those fields (soccer) and they are TERRIBLE. everyone had skin missing from their knees by the end of the match. the keepers were the worst. would be great for hockey. but for rugby/AFL/soccer forget about it. the synthetic pitch at hawker is much better. much softer and they didn’t use sand on the pitch. i think ANU might have skimped a bit on this one

FIFA gave up on synthetic surfaces years ago didn’t they? Haven’t seen them in the World Cup

Then you’re not looking hard enough. (Granted, not fully synthetic as in this case, but not all-natural either).

FIFA gave up on synthetic surfaces years ago didn’t they? Haven’t seen them in the World Cup or the EPL recently … so how “world class” is it really?

Jenny Grogan10:00 pm 17 Jun 10

i have to say i’m impressed that they’re keeping it as sporting ground rather than capitalising on the prime real estate… only a matter of time though…

Just imagine all the skinned elbows and knees. Ouch.

Synthetic playing fields, although rather expensive ($100+ per m/s) are becoming more and more popular for schools and sporting grounds.

And yes, because they are layed on a free draining sand and gravel profile they collect rainwater, slightly filtered, through subsoil drainage into storage tanks. I have worked on a number of sporting field upgrades and this is becoming the norm, some of the synthetic grass looks amazingly real too.

The only problem is that they tend to need wetting down, water is of course captured as said above, or you can expect some nasty carpet burn from sliding on it.

As for the FIFA rating, its normal for all new sporting fields, not the public ones, to comply with the standard requirements of the sporting body for the sport which it field is made for.

Steve_Pedestrian4:24 pm 17 Jun 10

You’d think that some genius would put a higher fence along the side where Sullivan’s creek runs to stop balls that are mis-hit into it…

icantbelieveitsnotbutter3:05 pm 17 Jun 10

International hockey??? Maybe international ice hockey at 5am in the middle of Winter?

ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Chubb said: “The FIFA two-star rating means that Willows Oval mirrors the playing conditions of the highest level of professional soccer. You could play the World Cup on this surface.”

Overkill perhaps? Well, we won’t be needing the Bruce Stadium replacement then.

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