The Circular Head Recreation Ground’s transformation from boggy quagmire to one of the north west’s pristine surfaces has been recognised, with the venue’s surface restoration project announced as the winner of the 2024 Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award for Tasmania.
The Ken Gannon Awards recognise best practice in community football facility development, with the $700,500 redevelopment of the Circular Head Recreation Ground Tasmania’s 2024 winner.
The ground is home to the Circular Head Saints in the NWFL, as well as the Grand Final and marquee match venue for the Circular Head Football Association.
Poor drainage continuously left the ground’s surface waterlogged, causing significant difficulties in maintaining ground quality.
The Circular Head Saints were forced to move several matches away from the ground in 2023, with the club still finding its feet after coming back from recess in 2022.
Circular Head Saints Secretary, Keith Billing said, the poor condition of the ground nearly sent the club back into recess.
“As a regional community club, we walk a tightrope every year and having been forced to give away or transfer home games previously due to the ground being a boggy quagmire, it put us under enormous pressure to continue.
“These upgrades mean we now have some of the best surface conditions in the NWFL, and we can’t wait to continue to grow with these facilities in 2025 and beyond.”
The project required a bespoke drainage solution, tailored to the specific needs and constraints of the venue. Subsoil drainage pipes were strategically aligned to avoid existing irrigation, with the depth of subsoil pipes and sand-slit drainage adjusted, with a sand carpet layer also installed.
With strong collaboration between Circular Head Council, The Baker Group and SPORTENG, this upgrade has resulted in a reliable surface that is now among the best in the state.
Circular Head Council Mayor Gerard Blizzard says the ground has been given a fresh lease of life.
“Council and the community are very pleased with the upgrades to the sports oval. The ground has been a hub for sporting activities for many years and is now better than ever. We acknowledge some of the difficulties involved as the need to fix the surface became paramount, but we now have a 20-year asset we can all be very proud of.”
This award also recognises the incredible service to Australian rules football of over four decades by Ken Gannon. In a decorated career, Ken spent much of his last decade in the game developing the AFL’s interest and partnerships in this space, leveraging $500 million of outcomes for more than 800 community football facility projects.
AFL Tasmania Venue & Government Partnerships Manager, Anthony Osborn said this project is of great significance and marks the start of a mission for the AFL.
“This project is thoroughly deserving of the Tasmanian Ken Gannon Award, and the council and club should be proud of what has been delivered, and excited for the season ahead.”
“As football participation continues to grow across the state, venue access remains a key priority, with AFL Tasmania setting a target of improving access to or upgrading 70 venues by 2028.
Community football clubs and Tasmanian councils are encouraged to apply for facility funding through AFL Tasmania’s Tasmanian Community Football Facilities Fund, with more information available on the AFL Tasmania website.