Davies Reserve Athletics Track
Redeveloping a community athletics hub
Victoria

The reserve’s existing athletics track and infield were no longer meeting the needs of users. The old bitumen track surface had deteriorated and was unsuitable for ongoing use. The infield suffered from inconsistent levels, drainage issues and an outdated layout.

Along with this, the site contained a complex mix of existing infrastructure: multiple jump runways, disused pole vault elements, shot put and discus areas, ageing lighting assets, a busy pavilion zone, informal car parking and a scout hall affected by water pooling.

The challenge for SPORTENG was to transform this patchwork of facilities into a cohesive, future-ready precinct while maintaining the natural turf character of the site. The design also needed to support the City of Monash’s broader community sport goals by improving safety, accessibility, durability and performance.

We delivered a fully coordinated design package that balanced athletics, community sport and a new senior-sized soccer pitch within the infield. Our team guided the project from preliminary investigation through to detailed design and construction support.

Here’s how we approached the redevelopment:

• Understanding the Site

We began with a comprehensive site and feature-level survey, supported by geotechnical investigations and contamination assessments. This gave us the ground truth needed to redesign the reserve from the profile up. We also evaluated sports profile reconstruction options to help the City of Monash understand cost, performance expectations and long-term maintenance requirements.

• Designing a Modern Natural Turf Athletics Precinct

We returned the old bitumen track and inner sports field to a natural grass surface. This required careful grading, subgrade preparation and a robust drainage and irrigation strategy to ensure consistent performance year-round.

The infield was shaped to accommodate a senior turf soccer pitch without compromising athletics operations. We incorporated a root barrier along the track edge to protect surface integrity over the long term.

• Upgrading Athletics Field Events

We redesigned and resurfaced all jump runways with a new polyurethane system to give athletes a safer, high-performance surface.

New sand pits, water taps, and anchor points for future high jump facilities were incorporated to support growth and flexible programming.

• Supporting the Construction Phase

Throughout construction, we assisted the Superintendent and reviewed design queries, shop drawings and quality documentation. We provided technical guidance and on-site support to ensure the build stayed aligned with the design intent.

We also developed a tailored establishment and maintenance program so the new turf surfaces could reach full performance.

Davies Reserve is now a revitalised community asset that supports athletics, school sports and soccer in a safer, more sustainable and better-connected environment.

Athletes benefit from an upgraded natural turf track, new jump surfaces and improved field event infrastructure. The senior turf soccer pitch offers the community more opportunities to participate in sport while maintaining the family-friendly character of the reserve.

For the City of Monash, the redevelopment delivers a long-term, maintainable solution that responds to the community’s needs and sets the foundation for continued growth at Oakleigh Little Athletics Club. The precinct now feels cohesive, resilient and ready for the next generation of young athletes.