Revitalise Oval & Upgrades to Water Infrastructure
Gunbalanya Oval is a crucial recreational hub nestled within the vibrant community of Gunbalanya (also known as Oenpelli) in East Arnhem Land. This remote community is situated approximately 300 kilometres east of Darwin. The oval serves as a central gathering place, vital for fostering community well-being and providing essential space for a diverse range of sports, cultural events, and recreational activities enjoyed by residents of all ages.
The condition of Gunbalanya Oval’s playing surface and its supporting water infrastructure was significantly hindering the community’s access to high-quality sporting facilities. The oval itself suffered from poor turf health, unevenness, and inconsistent or insufficient irrigation, making it challenging to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for sports and recreation.
Compounding this, the existing water infrastructure was inadequate, directly impacting the reliability and efficiency of water delivery necessary for proper turf maintenance. Ultimately, this meant the community wasn’t consistently benefiting from a top-tier sporting ground, highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive revitalisation and infrastructure upgrades.
Think Water Darwin was contacted by West Arnhem Regional Council, who sought our expertise to assess the oval and provide a solution for revitalising its surface and upgrading its water infrastructure. Following this initial contact, Think Water Darwin implemented a comprehensive strategy that tackled both the oval’s surface quality and its water supply system.
To revitalise the oval surface, our team undertook a precise series of essential services. We began with topsoiling to enrich the ground and incorporated beneficial microbes into the soil to enhance its structure, boost nutrient cycling, and improve overall plant health for more resilient turf. Comprehensive aeration was performed to optimise drainage and air circulation, followed by precise levelling to ensure a consistent playing surface, and over-seeding with new grass to establish a dense, healthy turf.
We also focused on substantial upgrades to the water infrastructure. This involved repairing and upgrading pumps and their associated equipment, including the crucial pump located at the billabong in town which transfers water to the holding tanks. A critical addition was telemetry, enabling automated water transfer from the billabong pump to the tank compound, ensuring efficient auto-filling of the tanks. From the tank compound, water is now reliably pumped to the oval for consistent turf irrigation.
For the oval’s irrigation itself, a brand-new system was installed. We laid a new pipeline with new outlets, specifically designed to accommodate two new R120 travelling irrigators from Rodney Industries. Once the entire system was fully installed and commissioned, we conducted thorough training with key staff members from the West Arnhem Regional Council, empowering them to effectively manage and maintain the new infrastructure long-term.
The revitalisation of Gunbalanya Oval has provided the community with a significantly improved and reliable playing surface, greatly enhancing their capacity for various sports and recreational activities. The upgraded, automated water infrastructure ensures a consistent and efficient water supply for ongoing turf health.
The entire project, encompassing initial pre-inspection meetings, the new irrigation system installation, extensive earthworks and seeding, and staff training, was completed efficiently in approximately 10 working days. Importantly, the training provided empowers the West Arnhem Regional Council staff to independently manage the system, securing the long-term sustainability of the oval’s excellent condition for the benefit of the entire community.
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