Eden Park passes rain test

By WYNNE GRAY

Eden Park easily passed a stringent warrant of fitness check this week after its multi-million-dollar drainage and turf makeover.

As Auckland struggled to deal with flooding, Eden Park Trust Board officials could applaud their $4 million decision to revamp the city's premier sporting arena.

The No 1 ground was excavated on January 13 after the one-day cricket series with India ended. In a fortnight the famous stadium will resume its sports hosting duties when the Blues play the Brumbies in the Super 12.

"We had 132mm of rain in 48 hours here this week and we could have played cricket on it the next day," said delighted EPTB chief executive John Alexander.

"The No 2 oval was very soggy but we even irrigated the No 1 ground the day after the storm. It was a great test and we needed it to encourage the turf growth and as some assurance the drainage would work.

"When the ground was dug up it became clear much of the problem was the drainage, it had all silted up."

Reconstruction introduced 7km of drains to the ground and surrounds, a foundation which would deal with heavy downpours and areas in the ground which suffered from shade.

Eden Park was relevelled, the crown in the centre of the ground had gone, there was just a slight gradient to assist any surface water runoff.

"Essentially we now have a flat ground with a legend couch grass for the rugby field and rye grass beyond that," Alexander said.

The trust board decided to use an American scheme, the Motz turf replacement system, as the surface for what they hope will become more of a multipurpose arena.

Officials visited stadiums in Australia, South Africa, Britain and the United States, and last August approved the Motz system.

The same system has been used at several Australian grounds, the Gabba, the MCG, Colonial Stadium and Bruce Stadium in Canberra.

Once earthworks began, 4000 cu m of dirt and rubble was removed, the drainage was upgraded and sports sand and chip subgrade trucked in. Some 9500sq m of Motz turf and 5000sq m of washed turf was laid down.

The Motz is a synthetic carpet which sits on top of the sand, below the turf surface and locks the field together.

"You can't see it, the grass just grows into it but you can feel it is very solid," Alexander said.

That interlocking grass and synthetic fibre project began last October when it was planted out in Maramarua.

It was harvested a fortnight ago, laid in 30m strips and has passed all exams in the past week.

"The root development is great and we don't expect much damage.

"Bruce Stadium only repaired 300sq m last year and they use that ground for rugby and rugby league. It should last for 10 or 15 years but if it gets out of date we would only have to replace the top layer because all the drainage and foundation work has been fixed."

The Trust Board had been talking to codes other than rugby and cricket to increase the use of the park. Concerts were also being considered.