Project: Ruakura Chiefs Training Ground Upgrade

Client: The Chiefs

Timeframe: June - November 2012

SSDM was engaged by the Chiefs super rugby franchise to provide a design to upgrade the existing natural soil training ground at Ruakura to a sand carpet sports field including automatic irrigation system.  The goal was to provide a training facility which allows the Chiefs to train in most weather conditions, without the need to find alternative training venues which had been experienced in previous seasons due to the poor drainage of the existing training ground.  

Works involved the removal of a large tree to allow relocation of the existing field, providing better safety margins and re-grading of the   surface to provide an even and consistent slope over the field. An existing  stormwater manhole on the site was also upgraded to provide a suitable outlet for the drainage system.

SSDM recognised that the site did not have adequate water pressure available to ensure correct operation of the irrigation system and therefore a booster pump was specified to be installed as part of the irrigation system.

SSDM applied for and gained Resource and Building consent from Hamilton City Council and provided detailed designs and schedules to TIC Ltd who carried out the physical works of the upgrade.

Design was carried out over winter 2012 and once all consents were granted, physical works started in early October and was seeded with Avanex unique endophyte ryegrass  early November 2012, allowing the Chiefs to use this training ground  for the 2013 Super Rugby season.