Blue Gum Park Oval
From waterlogged to Award-winning Field of Play
Tasmania

Blue Gum Park Oval faced significant challenges that affected its usability and performance.

The cricket oval's flat surface grades resulted in inadequate water runoff, leading to frequent closures due to waterlogged conditions.

Additionally, the AFL oval's one-way crossfall caused the lower side adjacent to the changerooms to become saturated after rain events. Both grounds were highly susceptible to severe weather events due to poor drainage systems, often rendering the fields unplayable and disrupting scheduled sports activities, which in turn impacted local sports clubs.

To address these challenges, SPORTENG developed a detailed and innovative design for the Blue Gum Park Oval redevelopment.

The initial step involved removing the existing organic layer, followed by re-levelling both ovals to create a more effective drainage gradient.

A new drainage network was installed, featuring sand slits connected to subsoil drainage pipework, which was designed to enhance water removal from the surface and prevent waterlogging.

For the cricket oval, close spacing of sand slits and subsoil pipework was implemented to manage the flat grades. The directions of the sand slits were strategically varied to optimise drainage.

For the AFL oval, a more conventional design with tight sand slit spacing was used, minimising directional changes to efficiently manage the one-way crossfall. Additionally, a sand carpet layer was added across both fields to further improve water removal and direct it to the sand slits.

The redevelopment of Blue Gum Park Oval has delivered outstanding results, transforming the facility into a premier sports venue. The advanced drainage systems have significantly reduced waterlogging, ensuring the grounds remain playable even after severe weather events.

In 2024, the AFL oval was awarded the prestigious 2023 Ken Gannon Community Football Facility Award for Tasmania, which recognised best practices in community football facility development and highlighted the success of the redevelopment project.

George Town Mayor, Councillor Greg Kieser, praised the project, stating, "Blue Gum Park is the hub of George Town’s community football and serves as the bedrock of sport in our region. Having inviting, inclusive, and contemporary facilities is crucial for the prosperity of local clubs and the communities they serve. It has been a pleasure collaborating with the club to facilitate a strategically located and accessible facility."