Spring Creek Oval Reconstruction

Key Items we worked on this week:

• Fence posts installed.
• Commenced pour of 300mm edge strip around the oval.
• Field of play and cricket wicket maintenance inc. mowing, fertilising, and rolling.
• Top dressing of playing surface and cricket wicket.
• Carpark import of crushed rock base layer.

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Key items worked on this week include:

• Completed irrigation commissioning and testing.
• Completed final trimming of the rootzone sand layer after the amendments application and cultivation that was completed on Friday 2 January.
• Completed installation of turf on the oval.
• Completed final trimming of cricket wicket soil prior to washed turf lay.
• Completed installation of washed turf on the cricket wicket.
• Completed the installation of AFL/Cricket Australia approved synthetic on the player run-off and technical areas.

Heavy rainfall in the turf growing region has impacted the growth of the turf and the ability to have turf rolls ready for installation prior to Christmas, as originally planned.

The contractor will now lay the turf in the first week of January, commencing 6 January 2026. All other surface works for the oval will be completed before Christmas which includes the drainage, infrastructure and drainage gravel layer, irrigation, centre cricket wicket and washed sand in preparation for the turf installation.

We understand this may cause concern about the ground not being ready in time, but the contractor is confident delivery by the original completion date of 13 March 2026 will still be achieved. Council officers and the independent construction supervisor will ensure the turf is correctly established prior to use. 

Key Items we worked on this week:

• The final section of gravel has been placed in the southeast corner.
• Rootzone sand is all on-site now, and contractors will complete the final trimming within the next week.
• Contractor identified an issue with the irrigation tank float valve, and the existing irrigation controller module is faulty and doesn’t work so unable to run any station or programs.
• • Contractors have been authorised to rectify these issues as soon as possible.
• The irrigation system will be tested early next week, after fixing these faults.
• Contractor’s will commence the turf laying from 5 January 2026.

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Works completed this week include:

• Completed turf wicket irrigation, and QCV valve boxes and fit-off.
• Completed 80% of drainage gravel and 170mm mega flows.
• Commenced import and placement of rootzone sand layer.
• Form, reo and poured concrete slabs for the synthetic turf area.

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Key items worked on this week:

• Approximately 90% of the irrigation works have been completed.
• Formwork and reinforcement for the synthetic turf area concrete slabs have been completed.
• Formwork and reinforcement for the player and umpire shelter slabs have also been completed.
• Installation of the 170 mm Megaflos is now underway across nearly half of the oval.
• Drainage gravel has been imported and placed over almost half of the oval.

This week work was completed on:

• Completed the cricket wicket drainage gravel layer.
• Completed wicket soil import and placement and covered until ready for turf.
• Installed all irrigation lateral lines, perimeter lines and valve boxes including articulated risers and sprinkler heads.
• Completed barrier kerb and semi-mountable kerb install.
• Commenced installing 170mm Megaflos.
• Commenced the import and placement of drainage gravel to the Northern end of the oval.

Key items completed this week include:

• Import and placement of drainage gravel to the cricket wicket.
• Completed stormwater drainage pits and pipe install.
• Rendering and flow moulds for stormwater pits.
• Completed rock preparation for kerb.
• Pedestrian and vehicle access gates set out.
• Completed the irrigation feed from the pump and plumbed into the oval along with the electrical conduit.
• Commenced the irrigation lateral pipe, articulated riser, and sprinkler head installation.
• Lost 1 day on 17 November due to wet weather.

Key items completed this week include:

• Contractors have completed the subgrade stabilisation with 3% lime and 2% cement.
• Subgrade final trimming, compaction testing, and proof rolling have been completed.
• Stormwater drainage works have commenced, including installation of pits and pipes.
• Installed the turf wicket table boxing.

Key items completed this week include:

• A geotechnical assessment was undertaken for subgrade in-situ stabilisation, recommending a stabilisation mix of 3% lime and 2% cement.
• The contractor has completed the lime stabilisation and has commenced the cement stabilisation, which is expected to continue until Tuesday next week.
• Once stabilisation is complete, the contractor will begin the stormwater drainage works.

Key items completed this week:

• Completed demolition of existing infrastructure as per demolition plans.
• Exporting existing organic material and clay from earthworks cut.
• Removed and disposed of the existing cricket wicket soil.
• Continued earthworks cut to fill and compaction.
• Geotechnical assessment carried out for subgrade in-situ stabilisation. Waiting for a response from geotechnical engineer regarding depth, lime, and cement mix %.
• The temporary water supply to the practice wicket is now in place ready for use.
• Lost 1 day Monday 27 November due to inclement weather.

Key items completed this week:

Works commenced on Monday 20 November, and the contractors are progressing well on site.

• Completed stripping and stockpiling of the existing organic material ready for export next week.

• Completed demolition and removal of existing fencing and footings.
• Removed AFL goal posts and footings.
• Removed existing irrigation pipework and valve boxes.
• Removed existing concrete kerb and disposed of site.
• Installed truck access crossover and rumble grid.
• Lost 2 days to inclement weather 22  and 23 November.

• First meeting with Endeavour Turf Professionals (Hold Point inspection contractor),  Victorian Sports Group and Council Officers held on Friday 24 November to discuss the key hold point, witness point inspections, as well as other critical project milestones.
• A detailed works program is attached for your reference.
• Organised a meeting with the plumber on Monday 27 November to sort out/confirm the water connection for the nets/shed area. We will make sure access to water is not lost at any stage.

Council are aware of the drainage issue at Spring Creek oval.

A new drainage design is included in the detailed design and will address the issues.

More information will be provided once the detailed design is received.

Council officers have been working closely with both the Torquay Cricket Club and Torquay Football Club when developing the plans for this reconstruction. 

The Torquay Cricket Club Men's turf team will play away for the summer season and the Cricket Blast program has relocated to Quay Reserve. 

Based on the findings of the geotechnical reports and the potential presence of a high-water table, we are aiming to minimise excavation. As a result, a Perched Water Table profile has been selected, which allows for high infiltration rates of approximately 45% and provides additional water storage.

However, the design consultant will also explore the possibility of adding a 100mm increase in height in the detailed design phase. The ability to increase the oval height is constrained by the existing infrastructure surrounding the oval such as kerbing and goal netting.

There is no scope to increase the area of the oval in this project, but the site is restricted anyway due to the existing perimeter road and existing services.

The existing oval dimensions do not meet the desired minimums identified within the AFL Preferred Community Facilities Guidelines, but as the guideline it is noted that many existing facilities may not meet the preferred guidelines.

The project timeline will be confirmed once the tender process is complete and a contractor selected.

A more accurate project timeline will be available once we receive the confirmed program of works from the appointed contractor.