Geelong Precinct FIFA compliant Synthetic Turf Soccer Pitch SPORTENG

Location :

Norlane, VIC

Client :

City of Greater Geelong

Year :

2016-2017

Sector :

Synthetic Turf | Soccer

The City of Greater Geelong's Leisuretime Sports Precinct is a large multi-use facility that offers a versatile facility to its community, that accommodates a wide range of sports and programs, both indoors and out. The objective of the facility is to welcome players of all ages and abilities, and offer various programs, competitions and social activities.

Prior to the development of the synthetic grass soccer pitch, the Leisuretime Sports Precinct consisted of facilities for a range of sports including futsal, netball, basketball, volleyball, squash, badminton and more.

Council identified the need to develop a FIFA compliant synthetic grass soccer pitch to the east of the existing facility due to the increase of community participation in the area for soccer in particular.

THE CHALLENGE

The proposed location for the synthetic grass soccer pitch was underutilised open space which was directly adjacent to the indoor facility and outdoor netball and futsal courts. The problem was converting this open space that was readily accessible to the public into a formalised sporting facility.

In addition, the open space area was in a low-lying area and in a storm event run-off for the adjacent area would locally flood the area.

THE SOLUTION

Working closely with the City of Greater Geelong, SPORTENG produced initial concept design drawings for the proposed synthetic soccer pitch to aid with community consultation. Upon community acceptance of the proposed layout of the facility, SPORTENG completed the detailed design and documentation for the proposed synthetic pitch. The pitch also included sports lighting and associated player facilities.

An overland flow path was developed to direct the run-off from the area to Cowies Creek, which was south of the facility.

Although the pitch’s primary use will be football (soccer), it is also adaptable to any sport that will fit on the space. Sports such as AFL 9s, touch football, ultimate frisbee are expected to be played.

The pitch can be used in several different configurations including Full Pitch, Half Pitch and Small Sided Football. The pitch will also be accompanied by player and official shelters, removable goals, and storage compounds.

THE RESULTS

We have helped the City of Greater Geelon to build a full size, FIFA compliant outdoor synthetic pitch with competition standard lighting.

Since the sport facility has been built, it has received positive feedback and is a great success amongst the local community. The feedback available on the precinct Google Reviews show this enthusiasm with a 4.2/5 grade with 89 reviews!

Here are some of them:

“Excellent facility with a variety of sporting activities. Clean and well maintained, with cooperative and efficient staff. Great place to go for an hour or two of chilling and playing with your mates!”

Tanay Swami

“This place is awesome to play badminton as they have six fully fledged badminton courts which are in pristine conditions thanks to the work of Craig who's an awesome bloke. Would definitely recommend coming here to play some badminton.”

Matt Havard

“The complex has a fully matted Badminton court (6 courts) - the only one in Geelong. It has recently added a fully synthetic soccer field. A great place to burn calories!”

Vincent Tan

“Large sports precinct servicing the northern Barwon region. Facilities include two large high-quality stadiums which cater for basketball, netball, futsal, and volleyball, a third stadium dedicated to badminton, a Squash Racquetball Centre with glass-backed courts and a mezzanine level, two outdoor street soccer courts, two newly resurfaced outdoor netball courts, and I believe they are in the midst of building a full-sized synthetic soccer pitch with high quality lighting.

Basic cafe operations with some sports retail available (soccer supplies and basketballs), and large, new change room facilities.

Have a few refurbished meeting rooms available for meetings, conferences, and training sessions.”

Nathan Geary

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