The Berowra Public School community was committed to transforming their tired and lacklustre grass oval, and an injection of government funding provided the means to bring this project to reality.
Through the dedication of the P&C, a grant was secured via the Community Building Partnership Program with the support of local sporting clubs. The proposed new synthetic surface would replace the uneven grass oval, providing more space and opportunities for students to play and learn safely all year round.
The leadership team at Berowra Public School approached Preferred Turf to transform their existing uneven grass oval into a fun and enjoyable play space. Situated on a slope, the existing oval was impractical for many ball sports and frequently became muddy and unusable in inclement weather.
To address these issues, our team suggested a reconfiguration of the oval into two soccer fields running widthways. We designed a new synthetic turf surface measuring 50m x 25m with a running track around the perimeter and multiple field markings to allow for different sports configurations.
Our 18mm Multisport synthetic turf offered the best balance of cost and performance, offering a durable medium-height pile designed for everyday sports activities. Cutting in and levelling of the site necessitated a sandstone retaining wall to be included in part of the design, with large sandstone blocks providing a sunny seating area for students.
Work on this project began during the winter school holidays in 2022, amidst Sydney’s unseasonably wet La Nina weather. The location of the oval and the underlying soil profile meant that it unfortunately retained a large volume of water, creating very soft ground for the construction site.
These heavy rains combined with muddy access for the entire project resulted in our team having to build a temporary accessway to bring vehicles into the site; however this was carried out with the least possible impact on the school.
Additionally, several hundred tonnes of fill were needed to raise the level of the oval in order to create a level playing surface and eliminate the uneven slope. Despite the increased truck activity, our installation team maintained the student’s safety as a top priority once the children had returned from school holidays.
As with any project, some challenges are inevitable but Preferred Turf’s extensive experience in completing projects for the education sector means we are well-placed to deliver excellent results in brief timeframes and with absolutely minimal impact on day-to-day school activities.
The school’s newsletter reported that excitement was building throughout the project, with students and staff looking forward to this new addition to their much-loved school. When the new playing fields were officially opened they did not disappoint, with students immediately flocking to enjoy the bright new soccer fields and synthetic running track.
Preferred Turf’s skilled installation of the synthetic fields has improved the amenity of the school and created a creative all-weather space to play. Safety has remained a high priority too, with fencing installed above the second-tier retaining wall to prevent falls, and the end product is much lower maintenance than the original grass oval.
The team at Preferred Turf can provide professional advice on how to increase the usability of outdoor spaces and boost outdoor activity at your school – contact us for more information on how we can help.
