2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - Melbourne (VIC)

HG Turf was responsible for the staged turf works in preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games XVIII held at the MCG. The recent turfing of the MCG represented the third time in three years that HG Turf has successfully re-laid the arena with Motz Stabilised Turf. On each occasion an event loomed large requiring the newly laid turf to be ready for immediate play.

STAGE 1 of the works required the field to be reconstructed in October - December 2004. The reconstructed field incorporated new drainage and a state of the art irrigation system, 5,000ton of gravel, 10,000ton of root zone sand and 20,000m² of Motz Stabilised Turf. Despite significant rain delays during excavation, the reconstruction of the field was completed on time and within budget ready for the Boxing Day cricket test between Pakistan and Australia.

STAGE 2 of the works commenced after the 2005 AFL Grand Final and required 12,000m² of the turf to be removed ready for the athletics track to be installed. After the athletics track was installed (by others) HG Turf covered it with 12,000m² of turf ready for the Boxing Day cricket test between South Africa and Australia.

STAGE 3 of the works commenced in January 2006 (after the cricket test) and required HG Turf to again remove 12,000m² of the turf exposing the athletics track. The athletics track then hosted the Victorian Athletic Championships prior to the stage build for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Prior to the stage being built the turf inside the athletics track 8,000m² (underneath the stage) was also removed. The morning after the Opening Ceremony, the stage was removed and HG Turf repeated its Sydney 2000 Olympic Stadium feat installing 8,000m² of turf inside the athletics track in 36 hours in readiness for athletics.

STAGE 4 of the works commenced after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. HG Turf again removed the turf from inside the athletics track 8,000m² and the athletics track was removed by others. The root zone sand was re-levelled over the full field and HG Turf installed 20,000m² of turf ready for the 2006 AFL season.