Glass roots makeover for Kiwi rugby field
10 Aug 2009
When the Italian rugby team steps out onto Trafalgar Park for their 2011 World Cup debut in the provincial New Zealand city of Nelson, they’ll be walking on broken glass.
The central city sports ground, which will host two Rugby World Cup matches in September 2011, is being upgraded with a unique, sustainable treatment that’s thought to be a New Zealand first.
Trafalgar Park’s traditional turf is being replaced with recycled glass that’s been turned into sand-like particles. With a similar texture to ordinary sand, the recycled glass is not only completely safe but is also cheaper, in plentiful supply and enhances drainage.
Council savings
The glass under grass eco option was chosen by Nelson City Council partly as a budget saving measure, and also because of the benefits over the more common sand that’s traditionally used to construct sports fields.
Natural supplies of sand that meet the specific grading and chemical composition required for sports stadiums are becoming increasingly rare, and have a higher cost than the recycled glass.
The council says that as supplies of natural sand dwindle, future turf dressing and maintenance costs are likely to increase.
Christchurch glass
The 2,800 tonnes of glass sand required for the Trafalgar Park upgrade will be transported from Christchurch - on the east coast of the South Island - and stockpiled behind the stadium.
Work on the ground is due to begin in September, and the new turf should be in place with grass growing, by Christmas.
Nelson Community Services committee chair, Pete Rainey said the recycled glass choice was consistent with the council’s dedication to respecting the natural surroundings.
"The sheer quantity of recycled glass that will be used at Trafalgar Park really brings home how much would have been required to be taken from our natural resources.
"With glass sand, there is an almost guaranteed supply. Using recycled glass sand also saves the natural sand that would have to be taken
from New Zealand river beds to carpet the turf," Rainey said.
No difference
Users would not notice a difference in the performance of the field during sports events because recycled glass mimicked the benefits of sand over the traditional soil turf that Trafalgar Park currently had, Rainey said.
The new turf would also allow rainfall to drain quickly from the grass carpet into a subsoil drainage system.
Nelson city council consultants Opus had recommended the recycled glass idea, and an analysis was carried out by the New Zealand Sport Turf Institute.
Trafalgar Park upgrade
Trafalgar Park, named after the Battle of Trafalgar, is one of the home grounds of the Air New Zealand NPC rugby team, Tasman and is also used by the Central Districts Cricket association.
Two new grandstands were built in 2008, increasing the park’s seating capacity to 16,000. Further upgrades will be completed in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Nelson will host two RWC matches - the first between Italy and Europe2 (20.09.11), the second between Italy and Americas2 (27.09.11).
Nelson’s long lunch
To kick off the region’s build-up to the Rugby World Cup and mark the "two-years-to-go" milestone, the Nelson City Council is holding a "9th of the 9th" traditional Italian long lunch.
On 9 September, 2009 between 12 and 2pm, Trafalgar Street - Nelson’s main street - will be closed to traffic, lined with tables and places set for hundreds of people to join in the lunch.
Background: Nelson
Nelson is the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby. New Zealand's first rugby game - under official rugby rules - was played in Nelson in May 1870 between Nelson College and the Nelson Football Club.
Nelson has a lively cultural heritage. The quirky World of WearableArt show originated in Nelson, and the city and surrounding region are home to artists working in many different media including ceramics, glass, and sculpture.
The Nelson Tasman region is also renowned for its warm climate, great natural beauty - especially Abel Tasman National Park - and food and wine culture.
More information:
Four million Kiwis prepare to roar
Nelson Tasman region
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