HG Turf – A YEAR IN REVIEW - 2007

2007 will be remembered as the year the drought really hit the turf industry. The market was just as challenging as the environment. However, for HG Turf, 2007 will be remembered as the year when they saw an opportunity and diversified into selling synthetic turf aswell as natural turf to the domestic, commercial and sports turf markets. A real sign of the times for a turf grower. On the flip side, 2007 was a successful year for HG Turf’s stadium business.

Telstra Dome’s playing surface finally met expectations in 2007. HG Turf believes the design of its Motz Stabilized Turf product played a significant part in this success. Motz Stabilized Turf holds the playing surface together when the turf plant weakens from repeated use and less than ideal growing conditions. Telstra Dome had its best year yet, replacing only 9,000m2 of turf. Interestingly, at its inception, advisers to the stadium forecast turf replacement of 10,000m2 per annum. The notion of replacing “more turf - more often” is certainly not the answer for Telstra Dome, the answer lies in having the right product and the right maintenance program both in the stadium and on the farm. Hence artificial lighting is a major step in the right direction for the stadium. HG’s Mathew Woolfe and Bradley Kidd, Andrew Peart from AGCSA and Jerry Spencer from Endeavour Turf Products deserve congratulations for their persistence in getting the product right for Telstra Dome’s difficult conditions.

The MCG had its 8th consecutive year boasting a playing field of Motz Stabilised Turf supplied by HG Turf. The entire playing surface at the MCG is Motz Stabilized Turf. It was first installed for the Olympic Soccer Tournament in 2000 and then again during the redevelopment of the MCG in 2004 and 2005 and then again for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Motz Stabilized Turf is the MCG’s preferred turf replacement system and it continues to be so with forward orders into 2009. Motz Stabilized Turf has contributed to the improved performance and appearance of the playing surface at the MCG and will continue to do so with ongoing product research and development being undertaken with HG Turf and The Motz Group in the USA.

ANZ Stadium (formerly Telstra Stadium / Stadium Australia) in Sydney was another stadium to rely on HG Turf throughout 2007. ANZ Stadium decided on Motz Stabilized Turf for their unique mid-season turf replacement requirements, and since 2005 Motz Stabilised Turf has progressively been introduced across the entire rugby playing surface. For each AFL fixture the lower seating is retracted to change the field from a rectangular field suited to rugby and soccer into an oval field suited to AFL. Prior to AFL being played the footings under each retracted stand must be covered with turf to complete the AFL playing surface. Motz Stabilized Turf has streamlined this process enabling the turf to be installed overnight before the AFL fixture and then removed the following night for rugby. Motz Stabilized Turf is not discarded
after each AFL match, it is retuned to the farm and then reused over a 2 year period (typically 8 AFL fixtures). Stadium Australia first used Motz Stabilized Turf for the 2000 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Across the ditch, HG Turf was awarded its second field reconstruction contract in New Zealand, at AMI Stadium (formerly Jade Stadium) in Christchurch. HG Turf planted a nursery of Motz Stabilized Turf in 2007 which is currently maturing for installation after HG Turf rebuilds the playing field in late 2008. HG Turf also continues to work with Eden Park in Auckland supplying Motz Stabilized Turf for their redevelopment works for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. HG Turf excavated and rebuilt the Eden Park field in 2003.

Late in 2007 HG Turf was commissioned by the Australian Institute of Sport to strip two cool season grass sports fields and plant them with CT2 couch grass. HG Turf’s team was headed by Mathew Woolfe and the HG works methodology enabled the couch fields to grow-in within 4 weeks of planting. In Canberra CT2 couch grass has performed well in Canberra Stadium (also a Motz Stabilized Turf field) and it is also performing well for ANZ Stadium in Sydney. HG Turf has a five year turf supply contract with Canberra Stadium. The playing surface at Canberra Stadium was first installed with Motz Stabilized Turf for the 2000 Olympic Soccer tournament.

To round out the year HG Turf rebuilt and turfed the main oval at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne. Again Mathew Woolfeled the project team and 22,000m2 of CT2 couch grass was installed prior to Christmas. The grow-in has proceeded to plan and the school is elated to have a first class couch field for cricket and football. HG Turf in conjunction with Sports Turf Consultants is providing on-going support and recently completed a renovation of the new couch field.

For more information: Call us on 1800 622 340