“Fake grass may be greener, but much hotter and less friendly to environment”
Story by Julie Power, Sydney Morning Herald, March 14, 2021
Plastic playing surfaces are extremely damaging for the environment and HPG is pleased to see that NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has asked his department to investigate sustainable alternatives to synthetic grass. See story here →
HPG campaigned for three years against a proposal to replace natural grass with on Middle Head Oval with synthetic plastic grass. Read more here →
The costs to the environment through the use of dangerous chemicals, waste from continual replacement of plastic turf because of wear and tear, migration of micro-plastic from constant shedding of particles through fibre wear, and the massive increase in high temperatures on and around the fields far outweigh any perceived benefits for organised sports.
Middle Head Oval successfully upgraded using natural grasses
The cost to Councils to impose protocols of safe construction and ongoing maintenance of plastic surfaces are much much higher than the cost of upgrading playing fields through soil remediation, tougher natural grasses, better drainage, and watering systems. The outstanding result of the strategy the retain and upgrade Middle Head with natural grass is there for everyone to see.
HPG is concerned that with increased pressure for more intense use of playing fields that there may be new calls for more artificial surfaces such as rubber and plastic turf. The environmental, health, traffic and national amenity value of Harbour Trust lands and that of other public lands will need vigorous defending in the face of any such pressure.
Read HPG’S previous blog posts about plastic grass here:
Council voted 5 to 2 against proceeding with a Development Application for plastic grass (synthetic turf) on Middle Head Oval.
On December 5, 2017 Mosman Council will vote on a motion to cease any further work on the Development Application for plastic grass on Middle Head Oval.
Over utilisation of Mosman playing fields is a community problem. But plastic grass on Middle Head is NOT the answer.
Following an approach by HPG the Trust has agreed to extend the deadline for responses to the Harbour Trust's draft Interpretation Strategy for Headland Park until Monday 16 October 2017.
The Headland Preservation Group (HPG) continues to work behind the scenes to protect and enhance Headland Park (the area that integrates Georges Heights, Middle Head and Chowder Bay) and its cultural, military and environmental heritage.
As you are probably aware, Mosman Council, at the behest of sporting bodies namely Mosman Swans (AFL) and Mosman Football Club (Soccer), has been considering for nearly 2 years the construction of a synthetic playing field on spectacular Middle Head Oval.
HPG strongly opposes the replacement of the natural grass at Middle Head Oval with a synthetic playing field on environmental, health, and public access grounds.
Mosman Council voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday night to defer its artificial turf project until the Harbour Trust and the National Parks and Wildlife Service commence a joint planning process in 2016.
A Mosman Council Report last week claims that public feedback “largely support” the conversion of Middle Head Oval into an artificial playing field (synthetic turf).
Both Middle Head and Georges Heights ovals are owned by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, and are leased to Mosman Council. Any Development Application submitted by Council would have to be approved by the Trust, which is the ONLY consent authority.
Middle Head Oval is currently undergoing the planned improvements promised by Mosman Council. Council voted to upgrade the oval rather than cover it with plastic grass.