Cheong Park - Upgrade 11th September 2008.

We have received notice from Maroondah Council that significant works will be
undertaken on Cheong Park during September and October.
A brief scope of works is as follows :

Early September:
- poisoning of winter grasses (whole oval) and checking of irrigation system.

Mid September:
- couch sodding will be undertaken for approx. 10 metres around the pitch and
also in the area in front of the practice nets.
- couch sprig “line planting “ will be undertaken over the rest of the oval.

“Line planting” is a technique where sprigs of couch grass are planted ‘in lines’ by a
machine that cuts a small trench in the ground, inserts a sprig of couch and
then closes the trench. Many golf courses use this technique and, over the last
couple of years, a number of Councils have used it on ovals.

Mid September to end October:
- no activity allowed on the oval (games and training).

This activity is as a result of an Eastern Football League initiative in endeavouring
to have Summer Grasses introduced to (their) local ovals. The AFL, Yarra Valley Water
and local Councils have all been involved and Maroondah Council has embraced the
program to the extent that Cheong Park, Mullum Reserve #1 and Quambee Reserve #1
will be the RDCA grounds to be converted within the City of Maroondah. Works will also be done on Jubilee Park and the Croydon main oval.
The RDCA has been kept informed of developments and has also supported the program
which will be at NO COST to the user bodies /clubs.

EFFECT ON OUR CLUB:
 1. No playing of games on the oval until November (senior, junior, veterans)

2. No training until November (again, senior, junior, veterans).

3. Scheduled games at Cheong Park will need to be played on Sundays during October.
At present we do not have a final fixture for seniors or juniors but “home” games in
October will be played elsewhere at Glen Park Reserve.

A Veterans fixture is also not yet available but we believe the Vets team will be
drawn ‘away’ in October.

4. Outdoor training will not be allowed on the ground during September or October so we
will need to train elsewhere (seniors and juniors). We have arranged to conduct outdoor
training at Glen Park Reserve where there is two practice nets and the centre wicket.
The Council is putting new synthetic surfaces on the two training nets for us.

5. Arrangements for Thursday night and Saturday Night drinks and meals will be announced
shortly but we need everyone to get involved and support the club.

Yarra Valley Water has provided an extra allocation of water to allow this project to occur
and this extra water is available until at least the end of November when the current Stage 3A restrictions are due to be reviewed.

WE MUST STAY COMPLETELY OFF THE GROUND UNTIL NOVEMBER
under our agreement with the Council.