Irrigated sportsgrounds across the ACT have been closed for their twice-annual repairs and maintenance.
The closure applies to all grounds irrigated by Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) and will continue until Sunday week, 30 September.
Director of City Presentation at TCCS, Stephen Alegria said that during the shutdown period, the sportsgrounds are unavailable for hire.
“The summer season is always busy for sportsgrounds in the ACT,” Mr Alegria said.
“Which is why we need to undertake these essential maintenance works to ensure the grounds are in good condition.”
He said the closure applied to 280 hectares of irrigated sportsgrounds across 126 separate sites in the ACT with each ground hosting regular training and competitions throughout the year.
“Once completed, sportsground surfaces will be safe, sustainable and fit for purpose, ready to host summer sports such as cricket, softball and baseball,” Mr Alegria said.
He said the annual spring sportsground renovations repaired surfaces damaged through the winter sport season and included applying fertiliser to assist turf growth and re-establishing turf density.
“Other restoration activities include aeration, top dressing of worn and uneven areas and over sowing of bare or sparse areas to achieve an even turf cover,” Mr Alegria said.
He said there were some exemptions from the closures for teams training for finals and also for Gridiron which didn’t align with the standard winter and summer sport seasons.
He said the dates of the shutdown period were negotiated well in advance with sports associations and clubs to ensure disruption to playing and training schedules were minimised.
Schools had also been notified of the shutdown period and asked to limit the use of ACT Government sportsgrounds wherever possible during this time.
Mr Alegria said the grounds would reopen on Monday, 1 October.
