Cockatoo Damage Prompts Turf Replacement Plan At Truemans Road Recreation Reserve

Mornington Peninsula Shire is planning a major turf replacement at Truemans Road Recreation Reserve in Tootgarook after cockatoos caused extensive damage to the reserve’s soccer pitches and cricket oval.

The Shire said the playing surfaces at Truemans Road Recreation Reserve are currently in poor condition, with cockatoos responsible for significant damage to the turf.

Following discussions with sporting clubs that use the reserve, Council has developed a proposed scope of works aimed at restoring the grounds to competition standard.

15,000 Square Metres Of New Turf Planned

Under the proposal, the existing degraded surface would be removed and replaced with approximately 15,000 square metres of new turf.

The replacement turf would be selected for greater durability and to make the playing surface less attractive to cockatoos.

Works would also include earthworks, surface levelling, turf establishment and specialised maintenance during the grow-in period.

However, construction has not yet been confirmed, with Mornington Peninsula Shire currently seeking funding for the project.

Council said it hoped to secure the funding needed to begin works as soon as possible.

Other Mornington Peninsula Reserves Recovering

The proposed works at Truemans Road Recreation Reserve come as four other Mornington Peninsula sporting reserves continue to recover from unrelated turf damage earlier this year.

The Shire confirmed a contractor accidentally applied the wrong treatment to playing fields at RJ Rowley Reserve in Rye, Olympic Park Reserve in Rosebud, David MacFarlane Reserve in Sorrento and Emil Madsen Reserve Oval 2 in Mount Eliza.

Those grounds have not yet fully recovered.

Mornington Peninsula Shire said it would continue working with the contractor responsible until the affected playing surfaces were restored.