Project Cost: $3.4 Million
Fundraising Target: $1 Million
We’ve got the ball rolling….now we need your help to keep things kicking along.
The ability of our staff to deliver a first class sports and recreation program has, in recent years, been hampered by sub-standard playing fields ravished by overuse during several seasons of drought and water restrictions.
The $3.4 million water infrastructure and playing fields re-development project will re-shape the sports and recreation spaces at BGS and at the same time significantly reduce the School’s total water consumption.
But to simply install a few water tanks and re-sew the fields is not enough. We have taken the time and opportunity to carefully consider and research how we install the appropriate water collection and storage infrastructure to ensure we can deliver a first class sports and leisure facility that will truly meet all the needs of our boys not just in the short term, but for many years to come.
The School worked with experts Cardno Young, using the most current research to ensure the optimum solution for our community. The details of this can be found below.
Help us achieve our goals
Doing things well comes with a cost and your help is needed. Keeping in mind everyone’s circumstances are different, there is a range of ways on offer through which you can contribute to this million dollar campaign – a One-off gift, a monthly periodic gift or an annual pledged gift made once a year over 2 to 5 years.
Click here to download a donation form.
Telephone donations are welcomed too. Please call (03) 8591 2271 during normal business hours.
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL OVAL
Work completed early Term 1, 2009.
The new synthetic Junior School Oval has a durable surface suitable for competitive sports, the PE program, athletics and as the key recreational area for the Junior School boys to play during recess and lunch breaks. The completion of the oval has completely transformed the external area of the Junior School.
THE MITCHELL OVAL
Work to be completed June, 2009.
The highlight of the project will be the installation of a first class soccer pitch with a FIFA 2 star rated synthetic surface which will be used by our boys but also be available the wider soccer playing community of Bayside. With the help of experts, a surface has been developed that is not only perfect for soccer but will also be suitable for playing under age cricket in summer.
The third use of the oval is as the key recreational area for the Senior School boys during recess and lunch breaks.
The synthetic surface on the Mitchell Oval also represents an important source of storm water runoff where approximately 90% of this runoff will be harvested to water the Crowther Oval.
Another component of the project is the installation of 10 new synthetic cricket practice nets and 6 turf practice nets.
CROWTHER OVAL
Work staggered over two years (Spring 2009; Spring 2010)
The iconic Crowther Oval has been the pride of Brighton Grammar School for generations. We seek to retain it as a first class turf surface suitable for elite level school boy competitive cricket and football. It will be partially re-sewn with hard wearing, drought tolerant summer grasses in Spring 2009 and followed up with a second planting in Spring 2010.
The key to the success of the re-planting is the ability to water consistently – hence the reason for the significant investment in water harvesting infrastructure.
NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO HARVEST WATER
A core component to the project is the installation of underground water storage tanks under with a total capacity of 1.5 megalitres. An extensive array of pipes and pumps will be installed to harvest water from buildings across the Senior and Middle School campus with the ability to directly feed bore water which will then blend with other water sources.
At the same time we are taking the opportunity to install a completely new and carefully designed irrigation system to water the Crowther Oval.
Our professional analysis suggests, that with average rainfall, we will reduce our town water usage on Crowther Oval by more than 50% from 12.5 megalitres to 6.0 megalitres per annum.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Campaign Chair: John Priestley, (OB 75) Campaign Committee: Parents Ric Ball, John Rawlinson, Malcolm McDowell, Barclay Nettlefold, and Georgina Grigoriou and includes Development office staff, Natalie van Wetering, John Phillips, Peter Toms and Andrew Biggin.
Click here to download a donation form.
For further discussion or information please contact Natalie van Wetering in the Development Office (03) 8591 2272.