STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 1

Cheers from your Chair Pre the start of the Cricket World Cup game at Hagley Oval, I asked Ian McKendry if all is well in the lead up and he quoted the 6 p’s: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance “Our Turf Managers will have a massive part to play in the tournament, they are all well geared up”! Let’s hope the Black Caps are just as prepared… Speaking of preparation, our Turf Managers are not the only ones that have been building up to the main event, Hamilton City Council have also gone all out with an impressive Amenity display outside Seddon Park, see photo below.

This issue features a number of articles on Christchurch and how the Sports Field sector is fairing in the rebuild, from disconcerting media clips promoting public mowing parks to the controversial development of sporting hubs.

This time last year I was consoling our northern members re the drought conditions and the challengers of managing turf in this climatic environment, now it appears to be the turn of our Southern peers. All I can say is may it rain down on you soon, unless of course you are hosting a World Cup game, then I hope it holds off until nightfall.

Kellie Rose, Chair

March 2015 Vol. 11 (1)

In this issue;

Cheers from your

Chair

Young

Horticulturalist of

the Year Competition

2015

Groundsman

Seminar – April 2015

City urged to push on

with new sports hub

The benefits of golf

courses as urban

green space

Member Profile –

Darren Kalka

STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 2

Thank you to our

Sponsor Members for

their continued

support

YOUNG HORTICULTURIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2015

Are you the next Young Horticulturist of the Year? This competition recognises and celebrates excellence and provides finalists with opportunities for long term careers in horticulture and this year is the first time the Sport Turf industry has been involved. Candidates must be 30 years of age or under on 31 December 2015 and must have at least 3 years practical, hands-on experience in the sector in which they enter the competition. The selected Sports Turf Representative will compete at the Grand Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in November. Please contact Kellie Rose at Primary ITO on 027 201 2684 or email kellie.rose@primaryito.ac.nz if you are interested in entering this worthy competition. THE GRAND FINAL PRIZES 1st Prize: • $7,500 travel and accommodation package • $1,000 Everris Speciality Products • $100 NZ Horticultural magazine subscription for one year 2nd Prize: • $5,500 Massey University study scholarship • $750.00 Everris Speciality Products • $100 NZ Horticultural magazine subscription for one year 3rd Prize: • $1,000 Cash • $500 Everris Specialty Products • $100 NZ Horticultural magazine subscription for one year The AGMARDT Market Innovation Project Prizes • 1st Prize: $5,000 • 2nd Prize: $2,500 • 3rd Prize: $1,500 • Consolation prizes of $500 for each completed project

Field Day – Seddon Park Pitch renovation, care and maintenance All STANZ Members have been invited to join the Northern Districts Cricket Association at Seddon Park on Monday the 13th April from 1 to 5pm. Come along and view the renovations of an international venue and join what will be an interesting discussion following the Cricket World Cup. Please RSVP Kellie for catering purposes. Kelllie.rose@primaryito.ac.nz

STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 3

City urged to push on with new sports hub

A hearings panel is recommending the Christchurch City Council push ahead with an ambitious plan to build a multimillion-dollar sports hub.

The hearings panel, chaired by Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck, considered more than 4700 public submissions before reaching the conclusion the proposed development at Nga Puna Wai, next to the Canterbury Agricultural Park, should proceed.

It will present its recommendations to the council at the end of this month.

The council has spent more than 18 months and $500,000 on developing plans for a sports hub that would combine facilities for a number of sporting disciplines, including tennis, hockey and athletics.

The development has been priced at more than $100 million but the council is proposing to carry it out in stages over 10 to 30 years and is hoping the sporting codes will help pay for it.

It has committed $6.7m towards the development of an all-weather athletics track to replace the one lost with the demolition of Queen Elizabeth II Park.

Buck said the overwhelming majority of the public submissions had been in favour of the proposed sports hub and had raised compelling arguments as to why it should go ahead.

There was strong evidence pointing to the need for new sporting facilities in the city and it made sense to co-locate them. It would avoid unnecessary duplication of facilities but also make it easier for parents having to take children to sports venues spread across the city.

Buck said the hearings panel had taken note of the concerns raised by the Canterbury A&P Association about the proposed development and the council was working with it on possible solutions.

Last week, the Canterbury A&P Association threatened to take legal action to stop the proposed development going ahead because it would no longer be able to use Nga Puna Wai for grazing or for carparking during its annual show, which could threaten its viability

The association told the hearings panel it was hoping to secure a lease on some adjoining land it could use as an alternative to Nga Puna Wai but if the lease negotiations failed it was prepared to take legal steps to stop the development.

The Press

YOUNG HORTICULTURIST OF THE YEAR

COMPETITION 2015 CONTD

Turners & Growers Practical Activities Award

The finalist who receives the

best overall score for

practical activities in the

Grand Final receives a $3,500

travel scholarship.

Fruitfed Supplies Leadership Award

The finalist who

demonstrates outstanding

promise and leadership

during the competition

receives a $2,500 scholarship

towards a Leadership or

Outward Bound course.

Bayer Best Practice Award

The finalist who receives the

highest score in a range of

activities with a focus on

crop management practices

and sustainability during the

Grand Final receives a $2,500

scholarship.

Primary ITO Career Development Award

The winner receives a $3,000

scholarship to assist with

further study or to attend a

conference and is adopted as

a Primary ITO ambassador to

promote training and career

pathways in horticulture.

Best Speech

The finalist who achieves the

highest score for their

speech receives $500 cash.

STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 4

The benefits of golf courses as urban green space

I recently attended an AGCSA Trainee day held at North Shore GC (NSGC) and hosted by Dane Hawker (course Superintendent). The purpose of the day was to teach trainees about the various different grassing options (associated pros and cons) for golf courses and also to focus upon the excellent work Dane’s team have been involved in through the ongoing establishment of ‘eco roughs’ (significant ‘out-of-play’ areas where long grass has been established).

Fig 1. Botanical diversity of golf course rough (Source:

SSDM) At NSGC these areas have been established largely in pre-existing ‘native’ browntop grass, however during the course walk we discussed methods of establishing ‘eco-roughs’ using imported wildflower mixes and fescue(s). The most appropriate methods of removing any pre-existing warm season turf grasses i.e. kikuyu, couch and paspalum were also discussed. In the instance of browntop controlling undesirable grasses is difficult, the benefit of establishing these areas in fescue is that Haloxyfop can be used to maintain a relatively ‘clean’ fescue stand and largely eradicate undesirable turfgrass species. Cultural management is also critical with twice yearly mowing’s and clipping removal being the optimum method. We also discussed how these areas provide the opportunity to enhance golf course (and greenspace) biodiversity as well as being able to engage with the wider community who can become involved in their establishment and aftercare. Landcare Research is currently carrying out trials to determine the benefits of enhancing turfgrass swards in passive areas of greenspace (in particular parks and roadsides). Methods being trialled include using wood chip to effectively ‘leach out’ excess nutrient from the underlying soil as well as reducing soil moisture loss, enhancing carbon storage and soil flora populations. Studies will aim to identify long-term resource savings and quantify ecological benefits of increasing turfgrass sward biodiversity. The google link (below) takes you to a fascinating study

Studies will aim to identify long-term resource savings and quantify ecological benefits of increasing turfgrass sward biodiversity. The google link (below) takes you to a fascinating study carried out by Melbourne University in which they identified the potential for urban golf courses to add valuable biodiversity and carbon storage benefits to the urban landscape. The motivation for this study was to build an argument for preserving some of the cities golf courses from town planner developments, in order to assist in the management of stormwater run-off, retention and ecological value. http://webcast.gigtv.com.au/Mediasite/Play/42a2107321724f1bb1fa6916293646ef?catalog=495dd159-b70d-4cd7-8a69-ea1bda3618fb Will Bowden

Member Profile – Darren Kalka Work history/ background Started in Amenity Horticulture as an apprentice in 1989 and finished in 1994. Worked in Horticulture until 2001 when I started as a Turfie with Auckland city council. Yes I am that old. Current role and responsibilities Sports turf advisor in the south sector of the Auckland council.

Biggest influences in your career? All the turfies I have worked with during my career, they have all contributed by discussing/debating the best way. This is the best thing about our industry. Where do you see the future of the turf industry heading? Sport clubs and codes expectations continue to grow and maintenance/development budgets get tighter, our challenge is to produce cost effective sports turfs, quickly and to the best standard possible. If stranded on a deserted island what would be the three items necessary to survive? Family, beer and volley ball called Wilson…. Favorite band and movie? Iron maiden and Bourne trilogy. Dream vacation? Visiting Finland to watch the 1,000 lakes rally.

STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 5

Christchurch citizens to mow parks? Christchurch residents could soon be asked to mow their local park or reserve to help the council save money.

The Christchurch City Council has reduced the frequency of weeding and mowing for more than 1000 parks and reserves to save costs.

The changes, made as the council faces a $1.2 billion funding shortfall, had led to complaints from residents, Cr Phil Clearwater said.

Councillors raised the idea of residents maintaining parks or reserves during Long Term Plan discussions, Clearwater said.

"People already mow their berms outside their houses. It's really an extension of that."

The concept had not gone further than a discussion at this stage, Clearwater said.

Cr Pauline Cotter said councillors would try to make the concept a reality early this year. Only those who wanted would maintain the parks and reserves, she said.

The Packe St park and community garden, in St Albans, home to regular working bees, was a good example.

"We're not talking about the big ones, just pocket parks and green spaces. It wouldn't be letting the city get to rack and ruin. It's to try and get people to take ownership.

"We've all got to step up and save some money here if we want our city fixed," Cotter said.

Fire Service Canterbury area commander David Berry said any long grass was a potential fire risk.

Recent city scrub fires where long grass was an issue were mostly on private land.

Complaints to the fire service about long grass were referred to the relevant council, he said.

A Huntsbury hill resident said it was a "constant battle" getting the council to mow an overgrown reserve on her street.

It was too steep and rocky for residents to mow.

Several other reserves in the neighbourhood were "overgrown with weeds", the Yelverton Place woman said.

"They're not looking after the streets like they used to. It's an issue when it's so dry. The council needs to get on to landowners. Often it's the privately owned sections that have long grass," she said.

The council would spend $7.3 million this financial year maintaining its parks and reserves. The council phased in the reduced programme between last February and June. Weed spraying changed from monthly to bi-monthly. Gardening changed from monthly to every six weeks. Mowing in long-grass areas went from five cuts to three annually. Playground inspections changed from monthly to six-weekly.

Council culture, leisure and parks general manager Michael Aitken said the maintenance standard for parks had not changed, only the frequency or the quantity of work. The changes were being monitored and, if found to have a negative impact, reviewed, he said.

The changes were made "to achieve efficiency gains and to stay within budgets", Aitken said.

Any immediate savings helped counter increased maintenance costs.

Clearwater said the changes needed to be reviewed. "People have got a right to expect tidy grass and not overgrown.”

"If there's a fire risk, it's unacceptable and would have to be attended to right away," he said.

- The Press

STANZ March Newsletter Vol 11. (1) Page 6

STANZ Executive

Chair

- Kellie Rose,

kellie.rose@primaryito.ac.nz

Vice-Chair

- Darren Kalka

Darren.Kalka@aucklandcounci

l.govt.nz

Committee Members

- Matt Cresswell

matt.cresswell@ssdm.co.nz

- Will Bowden

will.bowden@ssdm.co.nz

- Ian McKendry

imckendry@nzcricket.org.nz

- Alex Glasgow

alexg@nzsti.org.nz

- Russell Smith

russell.smith@pncc.govt.nz

- Chris Todd

Chris.Todd@parkland.co.nz

- Jared Carter

jc@bopcricket.co.nz

- Warwick Sisson

wsisson@recreationalservices.c

o.nz

- Bobbie Harvey, Secretary,

Treasurer, Newsletter, Website

Editor, & Advertising.

sportsturfnz@gmail.com

Past Forum Newsletters

If you wish to read any past newsletters

(including all newsletters from the past year),

they are all on the Sports Turf Association’s

website at www.sportsturfnz.co.nz. All contact

details for the STANZ Executive and their

responsibilities are also listed there.

Best Wishes

Bobbie Harvey – Editor

April 2015 Newsletter

The deadline for contributions for the April

newsletter is April 24th

for publication in the

first week of May.

If you would like to contribute, please email

me at sportsturfnz@gmail.com.

Articles published in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the Sports Turf Association of New Zealand. Information published in this newsletter is provided in good faith and the Association accepts no responsibility for the use or misuse of the information herein. No portion, in whole or in part may be reproduced without the written permission of STANZ.

Jason Venema

Shaun Davies