Steel Blue Oval – Turf Works and Maintenance Update

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining Steel Blue Oval to the highest standard, a series of important turf and drainage works have recently been undertaken in partnership with the Town of Bassendean.

Recent Works Completed
The Town has completed coring and topdressing of the oval to improve soil aeration, surface drainage and turf health. This is a significant step in preparing the ground for the upcoming football season and ensuring optimal playing conditions year-round.

Turf Analysis and Fertilising Program
The town has engaged Sports Turf Technology, who have an existing history with Bassendean Oval, to undertake detailed soil and grass leaf tissue testing. This analysis will identify any nutrient deficiencies and guide a more scientific approach to our fertilising and turf management program.

Further discussions are underway with Sports Turf Technology to conduct a comprehensive pre-season condition report, which could evolve into mid-season and end-of-season assessments to ensure the oval’s long-term health and performance.

Synthetic Grass and Drainage Improvements
All Seasons Synthetic Turf have been engaged to inspect the proposed extension of the synthetic grass area from our bench to the end of the Bill Walker grandstand. The Town has agreed to re-turf approximately 1,100m² of kikuyu (from Friday 21 November – Tuesday 25 November) as part of this broader improvement program.

During this process, it was confirmed that there are existing soak wells around the grandstand area, though no direct outlet connects to the Town’s main drainage system. While this configuration may contribute to some of the surface ponding and flooding observed during winter, it is not the sole cause.

To address this, the Town has now added the drainage network to its annual pipe and pit cleaning program, ensuring routine inspection and maintenance each year. This proactive approach should help reduce blockages and improve drainage performance. Should flooding persist during the next winter season, further investigations will be undertaken, which may include upgrading pits, pipes and connecting to the Town’s broader drainage infrastructure.

Next Steps
We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely over the coming months and provide updates as further testing and works progress. These improvements are designed to enhance player safety, reduce downtime, and maintain Steel Blue Oval as one of the premier surfaces in the WAFL competition.