WSX HBF Park
Ensuring Turf Recovery After World Supercross
Western Australia

Hosting an international motorsport event on a professional sports field carries obvious risks.

Heavy machinery, soil imports, and track construction can place extreme stress on natural turf. Venue managers needed reassurance that the event planning and construction approach would safeguard HBF Park’s playing surface.

Beyond the build, there was also the question of recovery: would the field be safe, compliant, and ready for sporting use once the event wrapped up?

SPORTENG was engaged to provide independent agronomic expertise and condition assessments before and after the event, with our Field of Play Team Lead, Lucas, leading the project from start to finish.

From the outset, Lucas liaised with Venues West Management and the sports field maintenance contractor Green by Nature (Alec Pengilly) to gain a clear understanding of the turf’s condition and the maintenance practices in place leading up to the Supercross. This was a crucial step, as HBF Park hosted an A-League fixture on Sunday 10 November and was due to return to football just weeks later on Saturday 14 December.

Lucas was responsible for reviewing the event management plan and construction methodology, identifying potential risks to the turf, and preparing a technical report with strategies to mitigate these risks. He also coordinated and delivered the pre-event condition assessment, which included testing turf composition, root depth, NDVI turf health, surface hardness, and traction. This data provided a reliable baseline for measuring the impact of the event.

Throughout the build, event, and recovery stages, Lucas maintained open and consistent communication with SX Global, venue management, and the maintenance team. His unique background in both project and construction management and sports turf agronomy meant he could bridge the gap between technical detail and practical solutions. By acting as the conduit between all stakeholders, Lucas ensured collaboration remained strong and issues were resolved quickly and effectively.

Following the event, Lucas personally oversaw the post-event assessment, witnessed the track removal process, and repeated the full suite of turf performance tests. He then represented SX Global during the final defect inspection, presenting evidence-based findings to support a fair reconciliation of turf recovery outcomes.

Through his leadership, the project was delivered smoothly, transparently, and with confidence for all involved.

By providing objective, evidence-based reporting, SPORTENG helped protect both the event organiser and the venue. SX Global had peace of mind that the field was assessed against industry standards, and venue management could trust that recovery decisions were based on hard agronomic data. Our technical oversight ensured accountability, minimised disputes, and supported a smooth transition back to elite playing conditions.

For SX Global, it meant delivering a world-class motorsport event without compromising the long-term quality of HBF Park’s turf. And for Perth sports fans, it meant their home ground was ready to welcome athletes back on the field soon after the roar of the supercross engines had faded.