Spring turf renovations underway across the district

Lakes Leisure’s turf team have commenced their spring turf renovation programme resulting in the temporary closure of fields and reserves across the Queenstown Lakes district. Fields are scheduled to reopen following Labour Weekend on Tuesday 26 October.

Turf manager Pete Domigan said the combination of a limited growing season in the district and the continual rise in sports field use over the year makes the renovation programme more important than ever.

“We typically have around three months of the year that turf simply does not grow in the district. This means that any damage caused by sports users cannot be repaired during the winter playing season.

“The spring renovation programme and consequent field closure is essential to ensuring that we not only maintain but improve the quality of the turf for the benefit of all our sports groups.

“Weather and ground conditions may affect the renovation schedule but we will do our best to ensure any disruption to field use is kept to a minimum,” Mr Domigan said.

Repair and maintenance work to be undertaken includes verti-draining, de-thatching, coring, top dressing, sowing new seed and fertilising.

The closure period will allow adequate time for newly sown grass to establish and mature in time for the summer sports season ahead.

Fields affected by closures are as follows:

Queenstown Events Centre Sports Fields Millbrook Corner
Queenstown Recreation Ground Jack Reid Park, Arrowtown
Jacks Point Sports Field Wanaka Recreation Reserve
Warren Park, Queenstown Pembroke Park
Lake Hayes Estate multi-sports pitch Allenby Park
Lake Hayes Showgrounds Lake Hawea Sports Field