NSC 2025 to explain how Australia leads in sports surface innovation

As urban density increases across Australia, the sports and recreation sector is embracing cutting-edge innovations in synthetic, natural, acrylic and hybrid sports surfaces to meet the growing demand for active spaces while addressing environmental and health concerns.

The upcoming National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC25), scheduled for 25th and 26th June 2025 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, will spotlight these advancements through its ‘Sports Surfaces’ conference stream.

The stream will consider the role of artificial surfaces in shaping active urban environments, delving into how surface technologies are transforming public spaces into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable areas that encourage physical activity, community engagement and positive social impact.

Innovations in Synthetic, Hybrid and Acrylic Surfaces
Recent developments in synthetic turf focus on enhancing durability, reducing environmental impact, and improving player safety. Polytan, has introduced eco-friendly long pile turf solutions designed for high usage intensity and reduced environmental footprint by using sugar cane polymers as opposed to petro-based polymers.

Hybrid turf systems, such as those developed by POWERgrass, combine natural grass with synthetic reinforcement, offering increased traction, stability, and softness. These systems enable up to 30 hours of weekly play, catering to the needs of high-performance sports pitches and are being used in high wear areas of football fields.

Acrylic surfaces are now being used within small pocket parks due to their ability to accommodate multitude of sports and an intensity of use that is exceptional. The Expo will be show casing how these surfaces are being used for pickleball, padel, netball and many other sports.

Addressing Health and Environmental Concerns
While synthetic surfaces offer numerous benefits, concerns have been raised regarding their environmental and health impacts, particularly related to microplastics and heat retention. The NSW Chief Scientist’s report of 2023 highlighted knowledge gaps in understanding these impacts, prompting a shift towards alternative infill materials.

For instance, Sydney’s Moore Park All-Weather Field recently transitioned from rubber-crumb infill to cork-based materials to mitigate potential risks.

Martin Sheppard, Managing Director of Smart Connection Consultancy and author of the Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Fields, explains “these will address common perceptions and challenges associated with synthetic surfaces, providing evidence-based insights into player safety, environmental impacts, and surface playability”.

Enhancing Community Engagement Through Design
NSC25 will feature a keynote on 'Designing Active Urban Places', exploring strategies to future-proof cities for healthy, active living. Speakers include Kristen Clark from the Heart Foundation, unveiling the fourth edition of the Blueprint for an Active Australia, and Professor John Cairney from the University of Queensland, discussing movement-friendly city designs.

The convention will also host a PitchFEST session, showcasing innovations such as acrylic pocket parks, multi-sport surface designs and eco-friendly long pile turf solutions. These initiatives aim to create more opportunities for youth recreation and unstructured play, addressing the critical issue that only 17% of Australian youth meet physical activity guidelines.

Australia’s commitment to advancing sports surface technologies reflects a broader goal of fostering active, healthy communities while addressing environmental sustainability. Through collaborative efforts among government bodies, industry leaders, and community stakeholders, the nation is poised to set a global standard in sports infrastructure innovation.

Click here for more information on NSC 2025 in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: Artificial surface at the City of Willoughby (NSW)’s Thomson Oval, as installed by Polytan.