Woodlea Reserve Active Open Space
Designing a Community Hub from the Ground Up
Victoria

Delivering this greenfield sports facility meant overcoming a unique mix of technical and program challenges:

• Challenging ground conditions: Reactive soils and shallow rock meant bulk earthworks needed careful engineering to ensure stability, effective drainage, and long-term field performance.
• Multiple moving parts: Pavilion and landscape works ran alongside sportsfield and carpark construction. Aligning these concurrent works without delays required constant coordination with multiple contractors.
• Tight turf establishment window: To meet long-term performance goals, the natural turf needed to be installed and established within a short seasonal window, demanding precise scheduling.

We approached the project with a focus on smart design, collaborative management, and precision timing:

• Tailored earthworks design: developed a custom solution to manage reactive soils and shallow rock, providing a stable base and robust drainage for the pitches.
• Integrated program management: took a proactive role during construction to align timelines across all contractors, avoiding conflicts and keeping the precinct development moving smoothly.
• Prioritised turf establishment: structured the program to ensure timely subgrade preparation and turf installation, giving the pitches the best chance to establish before opening.

The finished Woodlea Active Open Space now features two high-quality natural turf soccer fields that have become a focal point for sport and community activity in Aintree.

Woodlea Project Director Matthew Dean says the facility will provide a fantastic opportunity for the community to engage in healthy, outdoor activities.

"We’re looking forward to seeing the community embrace and enjoy this new space, where people of all ages can connect, have fun, and challenge themselves. We’re thrilled to see it come to life and look forward to watching it become a favourite destination for residents and visitors alike," he says.

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Despite complex geotechnical conditions and a multi-contractor environment, the project was delivered on time and to a high standard. The fields are performing well and will continue to provide a safe, durable, and enjoyable playing surface for years to come—supporting participation and connection within this growing community.