(1200metres) will now have even racing for horses drawn inside or outside as all parts of the track will have consistent going. In addition cambers have been added to the turns, and the track has also been raised to aid drainage. Consultants, Cardno Young, designed the new track which has over 25km of agricultural drains running across it. These feed into a drain that has a pumped storm water system attached. The previous system relied on gravity and the course was at the mercy of the river level to drain in the event of flooding. The new drainage system, coupled with the flood wall, has effectively flood proofed the track and will ensure racing can continue in any weather.
100mm of gravel was laid over the drains by the construction contractor, Akron, and a 300mm layer of manufactured sand spread over this. The sand was manufactured to a specification provided by the VRC combining the key
factors of drainage and stability in the design. Following consolidation and levelling of the growing medium, amendments were incorporated into the top 100mm of the topsoil by Anco Turf who were contracted to grow the 124,000 square metres of turf for the track. The turfing stage of the reconstruction began back in 2002 when the VRC awarded the contract to grow and lay the track turf to Anco. The contract also included a four week clause to maintain the turf after laying. The turf was grown on free draining sand which was tested for drainage and particle size distribution at Anco’s Torquay farm, south of Geelong, prior to awarding the contract. The paddocks were fumigated before planting with Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) and then overseeded in September 2006 with a blend of three Perennial ryegrasses (Lolium perenne) and Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis). In August 2006 Anco ran its Field
Topmaker over the paddocks to remove any thatch and vegetative material that had accumulated. This left a level surface with Kikuyu stolons and rhizomes still present prior to the overseeding process with the Bluegrass and Ryegrass. The paddocks were constantly monitored throughout for disease and nematodes, ensuring the quality of turf would be optimum for harvesting. The VRC, along with Cardno Young, visited the Anco farm on a regular basis to inspect the progress of the turf. The 124,000m2
of track were laid in
five stages of various quantities commencing with a 36,000m2
section that
was hand laid in four days with conventional size rolls of turf. The whole job took from February 14, finishing on March 19, all by hand with up to 10,000 rolls laid per day. Work on the inside training tracks meant that turf could only be laid after 8.30 am and deliveries of fresh turf had to be scheduled to arrive before and after trackwork. During the
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