New Plymouth District Council sports turf specialists in demand

Hoping to inspire a new generation sport turf specialists, New Plymouth District Council’s parks staff recently took a dozen young agriculture students from Francis Douglas Memorial College on a grassroots introduction to the work to give them a taste of a possible future career.

The region’s top sports turf specialists are in demand as grounds at Pukekura Park and Yarrow Stadium get more exposure during major sporting fixtures - work at the latter venue being in the spotlight being in the spotlight during a pitch invasion by fans after Taranaki’s National Provincial Championship victory at the end of last season.

The Taranaki Golf Course Superintendents Association, representing about 20 courses around the region, are also set to pick up some tips on how to keep their greens in top condition.

NPDC Parks and Open Spaces Manager, Conrad Pattison commented “keeping our top turf pitches in peak condition helps us deliver first-class sports events for a sustainable lifestyle capital.

“We’ve just renewed the Pukekura ground’s warrant of fitness from the New Zealand Sports Institute, which we share with New Zealand Cricket, and the main Yarrow’s pitch will soon undergo its annual assessment by New Zealand Turf Management Solutions to see that we’re up to the mark.

 “Professional sport is a high-stakes game, so there’s no room for mistakes when first-class sporting events are scheduled to play on them."

The Central Districts men’s and women’s cricket teams have at least four big fixtures set for Pukekura this summer, while the turf at Yarrow Stadium turf is undergoing its annual renovation, involving reseeding, that will see it back in use in the near future.

Image: Yarrow Stadium.