Published on Friday, 1 September 2023 at 3:46:59 PM
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder will purchase a state-of-the-art soil drainage machine for sporting ground improvements, following the endorsement of the purchase at Monday’s Council meeting.
The Sustainable Machinery Top Drain 1000 sand slit machine and tractor will initially be used to improve field conditions at the Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex, with careful planning undertaken to avoid disturbance to sporting events. The machine is also intended to be utilised for other sporting grounds and reserves in the city.
The purchase follows an initial request by Council in June, for staff to conduct a complete review of the Sporting Complex, particularly the rehabilitation of the grassed area. The review found that despite efforts to reduce compaction over the years, results were showing an inconsistent surface for high-use sports fields, that does not allow for high-impact sports without the loss of turf or injury through ground hardness.
Mayor John Bowler said City staff have been looking into ways to remediate the fields whilst continuing to maintain their usage, however the density of our region’s soil has meant a new approach is needed.
“City officers have found a piece of equipment that is used in similar environments to replace soil profile with soil that is more conducive to drain.”
“The new machine will replace the existing soil profile with a more conducive soil type, resulting in consistent grass growth.”
“We are also upgrading the tractor we initially planned on purchasing to one with higher specifications, such as 100 horsepower, 4-wheel drive, and GPS capability to support the machine’s operation.”
“These purchases will not only assist with improving the grounds at the Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex but will also be used across other parks, sporting grounds, and grassed areas for mowing and field maintenance.”
“Sport and recreation are an important part of the liveability of our city, and we’re proud of the beautiful green spaces we have. Investing in equipment that enhances these areas ensures sporting clubs and residents can continue to enjoy them for years to come,” said Mayor Bowler.
The machine is being built and is expected to arrive in Australia in February next year.
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