Subgrade Stability for Soccer Pitches at Powerful Oak Park

The Project

The new Powerful Oak Park on Templestowe Road, Bulleen, Victoria, features three new soccer pitches (one synthetic and two natural) and a new sports pavilion, as well as associated parking, barbeque facilities, flood mitigation systems and the planting of new trees and green space. Built as part of the construction of North East Link, Powerful Oak Park is in addition to the Victorian Government’s initial $68 million investment into local sport.

The Challenge

Constructing high-quality soccer pitches requires consideration of engineering, agronomy and irrigation. Pitches need a consistent, durable surface to cope with regular use, effective drainage to remove surface water, and efficient irrigation. The new soccer pitches on Templestowe Road were to be built on the site of the former Bulleen Golf Driving Range and adjacent to the Yarra River, resulting in areas of soft ground and potentially significant quantities of water. This would need to be addressed to ensure a stable, consistent playing surface at the outset and into the future.

The Solution

To isolate the subgrade and prevent movement, a geomembrane composite was specified at the subgrade level to minimise the ingress of water. Working with contractor DWE, Global Synthetics determined that ProLiner® CM Composite Membrane would be suitable. ProLiner® CM is a high-performance geomembrane composite comprising two layers of geotextile encapsulating a geomembrane, heat bonded together by extrusion laminating into one product. It incorporates a loose geotextile flap on roll edges which can be folded back to allow jointing of the geomembrane. The geomembrane can then be welded or glued together depending upon the type of joint to be achieved.

Working with contractor DWE, Global Synthetics secured the required designer approvals and more than 22,000m2 ProLiner® CM was installed beneath the three soccer pitches. The protection geotextile layers are securely laminated on either side of the geomembrane core ensuring the lining system affords immediate protection against potential damage during installation.

Global Synthetics is proud to have assisted DWE with our in-depth product knowledge and service, helping to ensure the pitches were successfully completed on time and within budget.

As a leader in geosynthetics, Global Synthetics takes pride in supplying innovative products and sharing our expertise to support community infrastructure projects across Victoria.

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