Major sports to present approaches to synthetic turf at the inaugural surfaces conference

With more than 40 new synthetic football, hockey and AFL sports fields planned for Australia over the next two years, along with numerous synthetic surfaces to be installed in playgrounds, the inaugural National Synthetic Surfaces Conference and Expo (NSSCE) will be held in Sydney on 12th and 13th June.

The conference will see major sports present on their approach to synthetic turf with representatives from the International Rugby Board, world football governing body FIFA, Tennis Australia, AFL, Cricket Australia, Bowls Australia, Hockey Australia and the National Rugby League sharing the truths and benefits of how synthetic surfaces can assist with supporting greater numbers of junior players to be active.

In addition, the NSSCE will also provide a forum for discussions on synthetic surface performance standards while discussions on playground surfaces will be led by the Chair of the Australian Standards Committee, Professor David Eager, with the support of Kidsafe and major designers and developers of play areas.

NSSCE is being presented by Parks and Leisure Australia (NSW/ACT) as part of its commitment to professional development in the industry.

The program has been developed by Martin Sheppard from Smart Connection Company, who has developed a niché market with his expertise on synthetics and who is recognised for his planning and promotion of synthetic technology.

Other significant speakers at the event are:

Leanne Walsh from the International Rugby Board (IRB) who will share the benefits of the IRB's One Turf standard pitches, aimed at local governments around the world to install a single surface type for Rugby Union, Rugby League, football, AFL, Cricket, Hockey and Gaelic Football.

Alastair Cox, Managing Director of Labosport, the world's largest synthetic surface testing laboratory, who has worked closely with all of the world's governing bodies of sport in the development of the next set of performance standards.

Cox will explain why the International Hockey Federation and FIFA will soon be recognising these standards of pitches and what changes are being made to the European Standards for Synthetic Pitches and what we can learn from this in Australia.

Conference delegates are expected to be drawn from sports organisations, government departments and agencies, facility operators, architects and designers, playground manufacturers, surface providers and the education sector while the Expo will also be the largest synthetic surfaces trade exhibition in Australia with suppliers from synthetic sports turf, landscape grass, sports surfaces, play surfaces, sports equipment, playground equipment and maintenance companies.

The event is being staged at Sydney's Rosehill Race Course.

Martin Sheppard wrote on the latest developments in artificial turf in the March/April 2013 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

For more information call 1300 789 845, E: info@nssce.com.au, http://nssce.com.au/program

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