How dare they ruin our grass with sport!

Three weeks back I turned up at Calwell oval to advise the under 8’s soccer team that I coach that their training was cancelled as the ovals were waterlogged due to rain. While hanging around talking to parents one of the maintenance guys turned up. As we talked, some knob-heads on dirt-bikes rocked up and started tearing-up the oval on their bikes. After we chased them for a while the maintenance guys said that the damage they caused would take some time to repair but they’d have to “wait till junior sport was finished first”! Our season ended last weekend. Given the damage the clowns on the bikes caused at Calwell, I’m not surprised if maintenance there takes some time. Incidentally, its not an isolated incident. While walking the dog down at Kambah Oval last week I noticed some jolly young fellows had taken to doing donuts in the middle of the Aussie Rules field in their cars. The wet weather has really brought out the best in bogun behaviour this year.

vg said :

Bollocks, they own the oval. Their rules.

They don’t own the ovals, you and I do. And the only reason they exist is to facilitate sport.

vg said :

Can’t be too well arranged of a sport if the oval is closed on Grand Final Day.

I never said the sport was well organised.

vg said :

If your club can’t get its shit together that their problem.

The club doesn’t run the ovals nor decide when the grand final is.

vg said :

this is the first I’ve ever heard of this sort of thing, hence my shenanigans call

It’s the first time I’ve heard of it at this time of year too, hence my post.

Can’t be too well arranged of a sport if the oval is closed on Grand Final Day.

“so expecting the sport to adjust around the maintenance is, as I suggested, the tail wagging the dog.”

Bollocks, they own the oval. Their rules. If your club can’t get its shit together that their problem. Having competed in organised football of both rugby persuasions for nigh on 40 years in this town this is the first I’ve ever heard of this sort of thing, hence my shenanigans call

The information is from my local football club that had to find somewhere else to train when they made the grand final. There is obviously no exception for teams in the finals. It is also on the TAMS website.

When I say they are closed I mean you can’t hire them. If you just turn up there’s no problem unless you need lights etc, and don’t mind taking the risk of a huge pile of dirt in the middle of the field.

Yes we had a wet Winter. Yes the fields are in a terrible state. Last year we had a dry Winter, and the fields were in a terrible state. Two weeks twice a year is only enough time to spread dirt around, which is pretty much what happens.

My point is that closing the grounds for the biggest week of the year for a sport and saying bad luck, it’s the sport’s fault for scheduling their grand final in a maintenance period is ridiculous. Surely the point of a regular maintenance schedule is to facilitate the sport, so expecting the sport to adjust around the maintenance is, as I suggested, the tail wagging the dog.

Hey Battlecat – have you checked your facts before you ranted? Canberra has had a really wet winter and our home ground certainly needs some work done – my quesiton is if 2 weeks is enough time? My understanding is that the closures have been happening for a few years now, and Clubs are advised that teams competing in Finals are exempt.

The March seasonal closure this year was cancelled due the rain over summer and the fields actually being in very good condition at the end of summer.

Ovals are probably being given a 2 week rest now as its been a wet winter, and high use fields are pretty cut up and in poor condition right now.

By high use, look at Dickson playing fields, Jamison enclosed etc.

What’s more, according the the website, the grounds are closed in March for precisely the issue you raise Battlecat.

“What is the maintenance shut down period for?

So that we can carry out our seasonal maintenance with out interruption all ACT Government Sportsgrounds are closed for the last two full weeks of March and April.”

Where did you get your information from?

watto23 said :

If they closed the grounds they clearly haven’t informed the hirers of the grounds.

And they also don’t want to inform the community. There is nothing on the Community Noticeboard about your issue Battlecat.

If they closed the grounds they clearly haven’t informed the hirers of the grounds.

My mates and I play ultimate frisbee regularly and book a field. We just turned up and played this week. We didn’t know about the closure (was there a sign?).