ACT Government announces two-week closure of all its sportsgrounds

Looking to revitalise its 127 irrigated sportsgrounds for the summer months, the ACT Government has announced that all grounds will be closed from Sunday 17th to Thursday 29th September 2022 (inclusive) for spring renovations following the winter sports season.

The annual spring sportsground renovation program is focused on repairing surfaces damaged through the winter sport season and on giving grounds a much-needed break prior to the start of summer competition.

Daniel Iglesias, ACT Government Executive Branch Manager - City Presentation at Transport Canberra and City Services, advised "regular users of our sportsgrounds understand the importance of the ground restoration work we undertake twice each year.

“Once completed sportsground surfaces will be safe, sustainable and fit for purpose, ready to host summer sports such as cricket, softball and baseball.”

The program includes applying fertiliser to assist turf growth coming out of winter dormancy and to re-establish turf density prior to summer competitions commencing.

Other restoration activities include aeration, top dressing and oversowing of bare or sparse areas to achieve an even turf cover. Day time irrigation of sportsgrounds is likely to also be undertaken to help establish new grass seeds that have been planted.

Goal posts will be removed from the majority of winter sportsgrounds as they sit in the outfield area of summer sports and back nets will be installed on grounds where softball and baseball are played. Crease markings on cricket wickets will also be re-surveyed and marked prior to the start of the cricket season and athletics facilities will have long jump pits topped up with sand.

Explaining that ACT Government liaises closely with sport peak bodies when grounds need to be closed both for maintenance and when they are too wet to play, Iglesias added "after the challenge a wet winter season brought on, I would like to thank all sportsground users for their patience whilst we undertake these essential works to our sportsgrounds."

The maintenance period is carried out twice yearly at the beginning and end of the summer sport season.

The ACT Government manages 127 irrigated sportsground sites across the Territory, with 882 individual hireable sporting fields hosting year-round training and competitions.

ACT sportsgrounds will reopen on Friday 30th September 2022.