Casey Fields
Designing a soccer Centre of Excellence
Victoria

One of the biggest challenges SPORTENG had to overcome was the drainage design for the precinct. The site was very flat, which created significant drainage challenges to the design team. Draining such a large, flat area can be complex, as it often requires the installation of large pipe work that is also placed very flat to convey the flows away.

The other challenge was that the drainage outlet itself was small and undersized for the proposed development, as it was originally designed for a greenfield site.

From a drainage runoff perspective, the synthetic turf fields are composed of mostly a hard impervious surface (under the synthetic turf profile), which generates more flow during storm events. Therefore, the network needs to be able to convey water flow at a much higher volume than its pre-development condition.

Casey Fields three FIFA Compliant synthetic turf pitches - with one consisting of cork infill - and an elite natural turf hybrid pitch surface. 

Typically, draining a field on a flat area generally requires the fields to be sloped. In this case, a 1% field slope was adopted which increased the levels of the overall site up to 3m in some locations.

This was achieved by importing engineered fill to build up the levels across the site, allowing pipe work to fall and drain away. The drainage becomes fully operational across the site and drains the water down to the drainage outlet mentioned above.

As for the drainage outlet, a solution has been designed to allow the outlet to store and discharge the water flow without creating any disruptions on site. Some storage capacity has been created along the drainage system leading to the outlet, allowing the water to get through the pipe under the road, but no faster than it previously could.

Regarding the car park's drainage design, SPORTENG decided to favour the overland flow drainage, instead of a pit and pipe network installation under the road.

While the Team 11 bid was unsuccessful (the winning bids went to MacArthur FC and the Western United FC) the City of Casey delivered a first-class sport facility for their growing community consisting of four elite Fields of Plays; three synthetic turf and one natural turf (hybrid) pitches.

Aerial view of the Casey Fields soccer Centre of Excellence.

In February 2021, the Melbourne City Football Club, the Manchester city-owned A-League franchise, has moved its junior teams to Casey Fields, with its senior teams and administration set to start relocating in July 2021.

"The new infrastructure will bring further community and professional sport to Southeast Melbourne, accommodating administration, training and match days and help deliver social, economic and environmental benefits."

Amanda Stapledon - City of Casey Mayor CR

Source: Regional soccer facility comes to Casey

"This is a game-changer for the City of Casey and South East Melbourne. We are proud of Casey Fields as an elite sport precinct, and the addition of a second, full-time professional club adds to its status as the region’s premium sporting precinct... [It] will result in wide-ranging economic and social benefits, as will the creation of much needed construction jobs for our local community."

Glenn Patterson - City of Casey Chief Executive

Source: Melbourne City to move base to Casey Fields