TURF AUSTRALIA REPORTS ON SUCCESSFUL FORUMS

Perth’s beautiful botanical garden, Kings Park, was a highlight for NXGen grower delegates during their Field Day visit. By Katie Fisher

NXGen Forum showcases turf’s significant role in urban development and water restrictions

Learning how turf can deliver significant benefits to urban areas, finding out the latest research developments and meeting fellow young growers were just some of the results of Turf Australia’s 2016 NXGen Forum and Field Day, held in August.

Tis year’s forum was hosted in Perth with more than 40 young turf growers attending the two-day Forum and Field Day. Turf Australia’s NXGen event was created five years ago with the aim to inspire and inform the next generation of turf farmers. All turf growers attending NXGen are under the age of 40.

Tis year, the forum gave growers the opportunity to see some of Australia’s newest sports stadiums and biggest public green spaces. And they learned how the Western Australian (WA) growers were handling water restrictions while still growing top quality turf.

Te program covered a wide range of topics, including:

• How the benefits of turf can be promoted in the wider community through cooperative projects and innovative installations

• Research outcomes which can help manage turf and save water

• New industry developments such as hybrid turf, integrated water storages, and landscaping designs

Te Field trips were able to help growers understand the reality of managing sports turf in large stadiums and growing and selling turf in WA’s economic and environmental climate. Tese included visits to:

• Te newly developed NIB stadium which features hybrid turf

• Te Domain Stadium (also known as the WACA) which hosts national and international sports events and rock concerts on a turf surface

• King’s Park—Perth’s famed botanical garden—which has huge expanses of turf which must be managed with limited water availability and the presence of sting nematodes

An on-farm visit to WA turf producer, Bullsbrook Turf, highlighted to eastern-state growers the common and state-specific issues growers contend with across Australia.

TPI Turf News November/December 2016 97