Turf war looming

Grafton cricketers have been frustrated with the upgraded Ellem Oval nets still padlocked after six weeks due to problems with the Gabba Turf.

Gary Nichols

CRICKETERS in Grafton want some answers, and soon.

With the Premier League nearing the business end of the season, the Ellem Oval cricket nets are still in limbo due to what is rumoured to be a running dispute between Clarence Valley Council and the contractors.

According to reports there is an issue with the laying of the Gabba Turf which has left local cricketers on the Grafton side of the river with limited options as far as practice nets are concerned.

Tucabia-Copmanhurst cricketer Matt Pigg contacted the Examiner during the week to vent his frustration at the Council's lack of action in getting the nets up and running before the season's end.

"What I've been hearing is they need to be pulled up as there appears to be a problem with the laying of the turf," Pigg said.

"If that's the case why not use them and wait until the off-season to get them repaired.

"It's very frustrating as there are no other turf nets to use on the Grafton side. We have a set of nets sitting there which should have been opened at least a month ago.

"We have the finals coming up and players want to practice during the week...it's just not good enough."

The cricket nets were upgraded last year as part of the $3.2-million Fisher Park redevelopment but at this stage not a single delivery has been bowled.

The nets have been padlocked for several weeks, however Clarence Valley Council's manager for Environment and Open Space Peter Birch denied there was a problem with contractors.

"I'm not aware of any issue concerning contractors," Birch said.

"There are a couple of sections which have lifted and at this stage we're trying to get the contractors to fix those areas.

"I was hoping the nets would have been open a couple of weeks ago."

When asked which contractors were involved with laying the turf Birch was reluctant to provide the Examiner with details.

"It's a combination of people. The slab, the fencing and the turf, several people were involved. As far as the turf goes it's the best quality you can get."

The Examiner contacted Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson who shed further light on the matter.

"The nets haven't been in use because the actual turf (grass) which was laid around the nets needed time to knit," Mr Williamson said.

"Some of the Gabba Turf has lifted and the contractors will be here on Wednesday to fix it.

"There was never a dispute between the Council and the contractors. We're now happy the grass has knitted so if we have fine weather the nets will be open."