Recent Media Releases

'HG TURF'S 3-PEAT AT THE MCG' - Lawn & Turf Suppliers Magazine SEPT 2006

HG Turf recently finished relaying the MCG arena in time for the ANZAC Day AFL match between Collingwood and Essendon, witnessed by 92,000 spectators at the new look 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.

The arena (20,000m²) was first re-laid in December 2004 after the field was made flat for the Boxing Day Test between Australia v Pakistan.

Following the 2005 AFL Grand Final two thirds (12,000m²) of the turf was removed and the Commonwealth Games Athletics Track was installed. The track was then covered with turf for the 2005 Boxing Day Test between Australia v South Africa.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2005 Boxing Day Test the turf was removed exposing the athletics track. It was taken back the HG Turf’s farm at Alexandra and maintained for future use. The remaining turf (8,000m² inside the athletics track) was also removed in February of 2006 to make way for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony stage.

Following the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, HG Turf was responsible for reinstalling the turf inside the athletics track. The mandate was tight with HG Turf given only 40 hours to install and consolidate the 8,000m² of turf. The operation was completed in 36 hours working 24hours per day, two shifts of 12 hours with each shift having 15 workers.

HG Turf and its product had successfully undertaken such a mandate previously installing the turf for the Sydney 2000 Olympics in 36 hours, again after the Opening Ceremony and before athletics commenced.

As the new MCG shone in all its glory for the Commonwealth Games, plans were afoot to have the ground back for the ANZAC Day AFL match, one month earlier than originally planned. As a result, the program was accelerated and the turf (20,000m²) was installed over 10 days with works finishing over the Easter weekend. As sections of the track were removed, the sand was leveled and the turf was laid.

A benefit of Motz Stabilised Turf is that where a project like this one requires the turf to be installed and removed on a number of occasions it can be reused rather than scrapped thus realising significant cost savings to the project. On this occasion a saving of $826,000 was realised.