THE Saturday before last saw the long awaited Fisher Park upgrade completed on the cricket pitches.
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The upgrade was required due to the wear and tear on the batting and bowling ends, which were completely worn and have been for a couple of years.
The upgrade was done in a number of stages:
1. Excavating out worn turf and soil at both ends of the square to a depth of three inches
2. Filling in with special black soil that is exclusively used for cricket pitches
3. Laser leveling the black soil
4. Re-turfing both ends with Washed Legend couch turf
5. Fertilising, watering and rolling in the new turf
6. Erecting a barricade
The new turf must be watered every day for the next ten days until the turf takes root, unless we get good rain. The rain the Saturday and Sunday before last was perfect timing for the pitch renovation.
Cootamundra District Cricket Association is paying for the upgrade with the cost being just over $10,500.
The costs included having the centre square surveyed, the purchase of the black soil and new turf, the excavation of the pitch at both ends and replacing with black soil. The black soil is the dearest component in the upgrade costing nearly $7000.
There are two small jobs to finish off the upgrade, remaining black soil to be spread over the centre pitch area (which we refer to as the good area), and mini rolls of ordinary turf to be placed at both ends of the square.
The Cootamundra District Cricket Association wishes to thank the following who assisted in the upgrade:
The Cootamundra Shire Council who assisted in site preparation, Todd Bryant Constructions for the use of their truck to transport the turf from Sydney, special thanks to Bruce Roberts from his business Bob Cat Excavator and Tipper Hire for their excavation work at very short notice, John Stephens from Wattle Hire for transporting the turf to the site, and Ric Becquet for his assistance in laying the turf and transporting turf and other equipment.
Now that the upgrade is completed, the pitch will hopefully be ready to play on January 16, the first day/night match of season involving a Central Hotel vs Crusaders clash.
