Playing fields to thrive with innovative water solution
Date published: 23 November 2016
Council will save up to 270,000 litres of potable water every day thanks to an innovative solution to green new playing fields at Peggy Banfield Park.
The $3 million Stage 1 upgrade of the northern beaches sports facility commenced in June and includes delivery of two new football playing fields.
Council will use a combination of bore water and recycled water trucked to the site to irrigate the fields in stages as the grass is established and made ready to play on.
Turfing commenced on one field today, with trucks carrying 20KL of water a time working to establish the grass until mid February.
Field 2 will get underway in early January and will be ready by April.
A tank capable of holding almost 542Kl of water is also being constructed on site to provide further recycled water for the establishment of a second new field and to future proof Peggy Banfield Park.
Townsville Water and Waste Committee Chairman Cr Paul Jacob said council had worked hard to broker a solution to ensure the facility’s new grass and hydro seeding had the best start despite current Level 3 water restrictions.
“With water restrictions in force and pumping commenced from the Burdekin Dam, I am very pleased we have been able to find a way to conserve our precious resource while at the same time, achieve a good outcome for users of Peggy Banfield,” Cr Jacobs said.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the use of recycled water on the project was a great example of how wastewater could replace the use of potable water.
“This is a great result for the community and for the two local clubs that call Peggy Banfield home - Norths Rugby League and North Thuringowa Rugby League,” Cr Hill said.
“Council staff have worked very hard behind the scenes to make this happen and I thank the clubs that use this facility for working with us and even rearranging next year’s home games to ensure the fields can be properly established with recycled, rather than town water.”
Stage 1 of the joint State Government and Townsville City Council Peggy Banfield Park project includes upgrade of two full sized rugby league fields to meet Queensland Rugby League standards for club competition, as well as four new grassed netball courts.
Once the project is completed, the park will also include new dog off-leash areas, play spaces for kids and teenagers, two double table shelters, one electric BBQ, an internal path and gravelled road network, and new vehicle access via Lionel Turner Drive.
