KP Hardiman Hockey Field showcases potential of recycled materials

The KP Hardiman Hockey Field, home to La Trobe University Hockey Club and an internationally accredited hockey field in Melbourne’s City of Darebin has used 98% reclaimed tyres for the shock pad layer under the field along with additional recycled components.

The significant restoration and upgrade was undertaken as a recipient of Sustainability Victoria’s  Sustainable Infrastructure Fund.

The additional recycled components include:

• a layer of the field constructed from recycled brick and concrete

• glass as conduct bedding in trenches

• pathways around the field built from recycled soft plastic as concrete aggregate additive

• bench seating made from recycled hard plastics.

As part of the demolition process, the existing shock pads and synthetic grass have been reused at local schools and golf courses to reduce the amount of waste otherwise going to landfill.

As an International Hockey Federation (FIH) accredited hockey field, KP Hardiman is setting new benchmarks for recycling existing infrastructure and using predominantly products with a high recycled material content for the new works.

Following the success of using recycled products at the KP Hardiman Hockey Field, the City of Darebin has implemented a formal process to consider recycled products during the design phase of all Council projects.

City of Darebin Mayor Lina Messina notes “the project would become a case study for what could be achieved when the circular economy was prioritised in demolition and construction work.

“We hope this project will become an inspiration for individuals, businesses and organisations across Victoria to take up the use of recycled materials and these exciting new technologies. Recycled materials are no longer a novelty. Their use will and must become a priority for how we design and build for our future.”

Mayor Messina said that the success of this project, and the feedback received from contractors who used the products, has significantly improved the confidence in using higher percentages of recycled products in our capital assets and infrastructure projects.

The field will see hundreds of junior, senior and masters players train and compete in Hockey Victoria competitions.

The Victorian Government has also invested $500,000 in the KP Hardiman Hockey Field redevelopment through the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. This is a total of $799,580 in Victorian Government funding for the $2.8 million redevelopment.

The Sustainable Infrastructure Fund is part of the Government’s ground-breaking $380 million Recycling Victoria: A new economy plan that is transforming Victoria’s waste and recycling sector and building its circular economy.