Sportsgrounds during water restrictions

What are sportsgrounds doing to be water efficient?

Councils and schools can water sportsgrounds in accordance with Yarra Valley Water's Drought Response Plan or they can submit a water conservation plan to efficiently water 100 per cent of grounds. Special allowances are made for exempt playing surfaces which include: turf cricket wickets, golf tees and greens (not fairways), tennis courts, bowling greens, hockey pitches, running tracks and croquet greens.

Working with us to develop a Water Conservation Plan provides access to the water allocation scheme.

And, of course, they can always use alternative water sources such as recycled water.

What are sportsgrounds doing to be water efficient?

Since water restrictions came into affect, sportsground managers have pursued a range of initiatives to reduce their water use and increase efficiency including:

• transitioning to drought tolerant grasses that require less water to maintain
  
• reviewing general maintenance practices including aeration and use of fertilisers
  
• looking at irrigation practices including efficiency of existing systems
  
• recording, monitoring and sharing this information with their local water utility to benchmark 'best practice'

Many are also utilising recycled water and installing rainwater tanks and water efficient appliances in their related facilities.

Sporting clubs have also assisted in this effort by varying their training and match schedules. 


Why are sportsgrounds permitted to water?

It is important that we keep our community sport going while still cutting back the amount of water that we are using.

 Sportsground Fact Sheet (PDF 85KB)

 Sportsground Water Conservation Plan Application (PDF 125KB)

 Exempt Playing Surface Water Conservation Plan Application and Fact Sheet (PDF 140KB)

 


Water Allocation Scheme for sports facilities

The Water Allocation Scheme allows councils to use the same volume of water they have used in the past, but they can choose when and where to use this water to the greatest community benefit. Our goal is to help councils keep a great number of public facilities in operation during drought while still saving water.

A water allocation can only be used by councils to irrigate sports facilities. It cannot be used to irrigate parks, gardens or public open spaces.

Recycled water

Yarra Valley Water is currently supplying councils within its catchment with free Class A recycled water for the irrigation of public open spaces such as sporting ovals, parks and gardens. To make an enquiry or for more information on applying, please contact Yarra Valley Water on 13 1721.


What else are councils doing to save water?

Councils have been quite innovative in their water saving efforts. Harvesting rainwater, installing recycled water tanks and working with their water utilities to obtain recycled water fit for purpose while also working on the development of Water Conservation Plans.