Sports Technology

A "world first" new turf system is being laid at Nelson City Council's Trafalgar Park in readiness for the Rugby World Cup 2011 and events beyond.

The $5.9 million park upgrade includes a 16-kilometre network of underground stormwater drains, on which 2,800 tonnes of sand, returned to its original form from thousands of tonnes of crushed glass, has been laid in readiness for grass to be sown into it.

Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall explains "I'm thrilled that Nelson is the first in New Zealand to use a recycled glass sand turf.

"I hope we've set an example about good, sustainable practice, but really it's just the smart thing to do. Trafalgar Park will be an exceptional facility in many ways after this upgrade, but it'll be leading the country with its terrific new turf."

Recycled glass sand is an environmentally sustainable material because it is readily available and it doesn't take away from existing natural resources of sand that are in limited supply. The amount used for the Trafalgar Park carpet turf equals approximately 7% of the glass recycled annually in the South Island.

Nelson City Council Senior project manager Shane Davies said the recycled glass sand could be manufactured to the exact grading required and each year, when a fresh top coat was applied to replenish lost sand, it could be manufactured to the exact grade of the existing sand.

It also provided excellent drainage, allowing the ground to be used quickly after rain.

Over the next 20 weeks, the seed will burst into growth that will look like a full grass turf and eventually root down 10 centimetres through the sand carpet into the soil.

Nelson Community Services Committee Chair, Pete Rainey said that "with glass sand, there is an almost guaranteed supply.

"Using recycled glass sand also saves the natural sand that would have to be taken from New Zealand river beds to carpet the turf."

Rainey adds that users will not notice a difference in the performance of the field during sports events because recycled glass mimicked the benefits of sand over the traditional soil turf.

Trafalgar Park is one of the home grounds of the Air New Zealand National Provincial Championship rugby team and is also used by the Central Districts Cricket Association.

Two new grandstands were built in 2008, increasing the park's seating capacity to 16,000. Further upgrades will be completed in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 where the venue will host two matches. 

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