Magazine - Flagstaff Hill Oval Safety Alert

By Editor in General News on 16th Nov 2009 6:00

Shards of glass, tile fragments and a syringe were found strewn across the Flagstaff Hill Recreation Ground following the spreading of mulch last month.

The dangerous state of the oval forced the Flagstaff Hill Cricket Club to play at alternative grounds on two weekends.  The waste material was included in mulch supplied by the composting group Jeffries, as part of irrigation and turf renovation works contracted out by Onkaparinga Council.

The mulch was used to topdress the oval on October 13 and the council was notified about the waste two days later.  Onkaparinga’s general manager projects and services Bruce Williams said a tractor with a screed bar attachment was used to expose the contaminants, the oval was then vacuumed and an emu parade was done by Jeffries and 25 council staff.

The oval was initially closed until October 23 but Mr Williams said an inspection on that date showed a further clean up was necessary, resulting in the oval opening for public use but staying closed for cricket matches. The oval was expected to reopen for sporting use, including cricket matches and Little Athletics meets, on Friday, November 6.

Jeffries managing director Lachlan Jeffries said the company’s compost was made from material that included garden organic collections from councils.  “Unfortunately, some residents place plastic, cans, bottles, garden pots and other material in their garden organics bins,” he said.

“Despite our thorough screening system, some items sometimes make their way into our recycled organic products.”

He said the company was investing in a $2.5 million upgrade to tackle the issue and had “worked closely” with the council to comb the oval to remove plastic and glass.

Source & More: hills-and-valley-messenger.whereilive.com.au

Read more articles in General News, by Editor or from November 2009.