Local sporting clubs will have something to cheer about next winter, as City of Newcastle (CN) rolls out a clever new technique to keep their fields playable despite heavy rain.
Ten key sportsgrounds across the LGA are being upgraded with a $500,000 sand grooving program – a cost-effective solution that improves drainage without major reconstruction.
The innovative method involves cutting narrow trenches in the turf and backfilling them with washed sand to loosen the soil, creating a direct path for water to drain into an existing drainage system, reducing surface ponding.
The upgrades will keep fields playable, reduce postponed games, and give local sports more time on the pitch no matter what the weather throws at them.
Chair of the Sports Infrastructure Working Party councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the initiative was part of the city’s ongoing commitment to high-quality sports facilities.
“We manage more than 150 sports fields,” she explained.
“So, we’re determined to deliver high-quality sporting facilities to meet the needs of our growing and active community.
“Unfortunately, what we can’t control is the horrible weather that has regularly hit the east coast of Australia the past few years.
“Newcastle experienced one of its wettest winters on record in 2025, with May receiving 300mm of rain, which was three times the normal average.
“August recorded 290mm, which is more than triple what is usually the driest month of the year.
“The levels of rainfall forced the repeated postponement and cancellation of fixtures across a range of sporting codes.”
The sand-grooving program is being progressively rolled out at Wallsend Oval No. 2, Mayfield Park, Gibbs Brothers Oval, Learmonth Oval No. 2, Townson Oval, Darling Street Oval, Nesbitt Park, Lugar Park, Ford Oval and Harry Edwards Oval.
It builds on the more than $3.35 million spent over the past five years on drainage and irrigation upgrades across Newcastle.
During that time, the city has installed new stormwater puts, subsoil drainage lines, and irrigation systems at multiple parks, including National Park No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6, Townson Oval (Merewether), Arthur Edden Oval (New Lambton), Myers Park (Adamstown) and Johnson Park (Lambton).
“We continue to invest in projects to lessen the impact of both incredibly wet and overly dry weather on our sporting community and currently have 24 grounds with drainage as well as 25 irrigated grounds,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
“Importantly, we’ve invested in the maintenance of existing drainage infrastructure to ensure we get the maximum use out of our upgraded grounds.
“We remain committed to working with local sporting organisations to prioritise and deliver key projects in line with our Strategic Sports Plan and will continue to partner with the state and federal governments to secure grant funding.”
Council will also begin preparing drainage and irrigation designs for eight sports fields this financial year including Adamstown Park and Elermore Vale Reserve.
The improvements were also incorporated into the recent masterplans adopted for Waratah Park and Adamstown Park.
Additional sportsgrounds identified for drainage upgrades will be included as part of the public exhibition for the 2026/27 council budget.
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