Sunraysia Hockey and Athletics Facilities
Creating compliant Fields of Play through expert design
Victoria

Designing two elite-level sporting facilities side by side required balancing performance, compliance, and long-term usability. Each surface, synthetic turf for hockey and polyurethane rubber for athletics, has unique technical demands for drainage, subgrade preparation, and surface tolerances.

Adding to the complexity, the project included a detailed condition assessment of the existing hockey field. Council needed clear, evidence-based advice on whether resurfacing would extend the field’s life or whether a full rebuild would be a smarter investment. Both options required costed design pathways to support informed decision-making.

Our approach began with a comprehensive site investigation. Working with geotechnical and surveying sub-consultants, we established a detailed picture of the site’s conditions and risks. We reviewed existing service plans and master plans, liaised with governing sports bodies, and hosted workshops with Council and stakeholders to refine operating requirements for the new facilities.

For the existing hockey field, SPORTENG delivered a technical condition assessment. This report compared two options, resurfacing or complete reconstruction, each supported by design drawings, stormwater and pavement layouts, and cost estimates.

For the new hockey field and athletics track, our team prepared full design packages covering concept design, staged design development, tender documentation, and “Issued for Construction” drawings. At each milestone, we worked collaboratively with Council through workshops to ensure alignment and transparency.

In terms of sustainability, SPORTENG will also assess opportunities to reuse salvaged materials from the existing hockey field within the pavement layers of the new facilities. This approach reduces waste, minimises costs, and promotes circular design practices.

Once complete, the Sunraysia Hockey and Athletics Facilities will provide Mildura with high-performing, compliant, and future-ready sporting infrastructure.

The athletics track will meet World Athletics standards and will open new opportunities for school, community, and elite-level athletics in the region, while the new hockey field will give local players a surface built to international standards. The condition assessment of the existing hockey field ensures Council has clarity on the most sustainable investment pathway.

By combining technical precision with stakeholder engagement, SPORTENG is helping deliver a project that balances community use, governing body compliance, and long-term asset value for Mildura Rural City Council.