Elevating Sport Facilities Through Strategic Planning at Chevalier College

Location :

Burradoo, NSW

Client :

Chevalier College

Year :

2024

Sector :

Chevalier College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school located in Burradoo, in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

Administered by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), the College is part of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) and has a proud tradition of providing holistic education, nurturing both academic excellence and sporting participation.

With a strong emphasis on student wellbeing and physical activity, Chevalier College’s outdoor spaces play a vital role in campus life.
To continue supporting a broad range of sports and ensure facilities meet the needs of students and the wider community, the College engaged SPORTENG to assess the condition of its existing playing surfaces and provide strategic direction for future upgrades.

THE CHALLENGE

The College’s facilities include five natural turf playing fields, three hard courts, and two cricket net complexes—supporting everything from AFL, athletics and rugby to basketball, tennis and multi-sport activities.

However, these spaces had evolved over time, with varying levels of maintenance and performance. Before investing in any redevelopment, the College needed a professional and objective assessment of the site, understanding the current condition, risks, and potential upgrade pathways.

As a brownfield site, historical use and wear presented additional layers of complexity. The challenge was to give the College a clear and accurate picture of its sporting assets and realistic, future-proof options for improvement.

THE SOLUTION

SPORTENG was engaged to deliver a two-part scope of work: a thorough site investigation followed by a strategic feasibility report.

Our Field of Play specialists visited the site to assess each field, court, and cricket net complex, evaluating surface condition, usability, and performance across all areas. Soil testing was conducted on the natural turf fields to determine composition and identify any constraints affecting turf quality and drainage.

In the next phase, we combined our site findings with expert civil input to develop a practical feasibility report.

This included:

Evaluation of current asset conditions
Soil performance insights and implications
High-level upgrade options
Opinion of probable cost (OPC) for future works
Recommendations aligned to sports performance and user experience

We worked closely with the College team, presenting draft findings and refining the report based on their goals and feedback, ensuring the final output was both technically sound and tailored to the school’s long-term vision.

THE RESULTS

With SPORTENG’s support, Chevalier College now has a detailed understanding of the performance and potential of its Fields of Play.

Our feasibility report has become a valuable planning tool, guiding the College on how to prioritise upgrades, forecast budgets, and ensure every facility supports safe, inclusive, and high-performing sport participation.

By investing in site analysis early, the College has taken a proactive step toward improving its sporting infrastructure, ensuring it continues to serve students, staff, and the community for years to come.