Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
Whitten Oval Project
The VU Whitten Oval, situated in the heart of Footscray within Melbourne's Western Suburbs, continues to serve as a vital hub for the Western Bulldogs AFLW and VFL teams, encompassing their training facilities and administrative center. In addition to being the Bulldogs' home ground, the Whitten Oval also held the distinction of being the home venue for the Fitzroy Football Club for an extended period. In its history, this venue proudly hosted 880 AFL/VFL matches, including two finals..Whitten Oval, officially known as Victoria University Whitten Oval due to a naming rights agreement, is a sports stadium situated in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is positioned on Barkly Street in West Footscray. This stadium serves as the primary training and administrative hub for the Western Bulldogs, previously known as the Footscray Football Club. The Western Bulldogs compete in the Australian Football League (AFL), and Whitten Oval also serves as the home ground for the club's women's and reserves teams, participating in the AFL Women's (AFLW), Victorian Football League (VFL), and VFL Women's (VFLW). The stadium was originally called the Western Oval and was renamed in 1995 to honor the legendary figure, Ted Whitten, who had been a player, captain, and coach for the club. At the entrance of the oval, there is a statue dedicated to Ted Whitten.
2022/2023 Redevelopment Funding
The enhanced VU Whitten Oval presents an exciting opportunity to create a community hub, featuring a harmonious blend of football, community services, residential spaces, and retail amenities that will completely revitalize the site, turning it into a dynamic destination within the western suburbs.
In May 2019, the Western Bulldogs revealed an ambitious $150 million redevelopment plan designed to elevate the spectator facilities at Whitten Oval. This comprehensive proposal aimed at expanding the stadium's capacity to accommodate 18,000 spectators. The plan encompassed significant transformations, including the reconstruction of the EJ Whitten Stand, the installation of additional seating throughout the stadium, the establishment of permanent broadcast-quality lighting, and the creation of an indoor training field and convention center.
Subsequently, in the following year, the club reaffirmed its commitment to this redevelopment, allocating $58 million for the reconstruction of the EJ Whitten Stand, the installation of permanent lighting, the resizing of the oval, the addition of terracing on the eastern and southern sides of the ground, and various other necessary modifications. This phase was labeled the "Stage 2 redevelopment."
By January 2021, the club successfully secured $36.8 million in funding from the Victorian Government.
In mid-2022, the club officially initiated the construction phase, slated to unfold over an 18-month period. This stage of the redevelopment entailed the reconstruction of the Whitten Grandstand, the establishment of a high-performance center and indoor sports field, the realignment of the oval surface, enhancements to spectator amenities, and the introduction of facilities to support the club's foundation and women's health programs. Notably, the demolition and replacement of the EJ Whitten Stand commenced in July 2022.
Where can I find more information? - For any questions regarding the VU Whitten Oval redevelopment, email redevelopment@westernbulldogs.com.au
Challenges
The challenges included sourcing and supplying good quality soil for garden bed and turf areas which meets the parameters as outlined by the landscape Architect. Critical to the projects success was having a partner who could navigate the intricacies of meeting exact soil specifications within the time constraints coupled with limited site access and multiple demanding delivery timeslots.
Approach
Soilworx offered effective solutions by providing comprehensive samples and flexible options to meet the soil specifications.
“The account management and commitment to quick responses ensured timely deliveries, and they were able to accommodate various truck sizes to meet our project requirements promptly. “ Rohit Kumar
With a dedication to fast response times for material call-ups, Soilworx delivered tailored solutions for the Whitten Oval project.
Product supply
Soilworx played a pivotal role in the Whitten Oval project by supplying a range of essential materials to Normark. This included "Special blend soil", Scoria 20mm, Screening 20mm, Recycled Concrete Class 2 & 3, and Crushed Rock Class 2 & 3, contributing to the successful execution of the project.
Soil Assessment for Whitten Oval – general grass and garden beds topsoil
Soilworx requested our external soil lab provide professional soil science advice to identify a suitable soil growing medium for the Whitten Oval to be used for general grass and garden beds in the soft landscaping areas. The topsoil for the project needs to comply with the requirements of the Whitten Oval Redevelopment: Landscape specification/schedule of works prepared by Urbis. The soils needed to be compliant with AS4419-2003 (medium organic matter/high phosphorus). We were able to meet the requirements and provide compliance documentation for the 'Special blend' in accordance with the Australian Standard. The soil has been compared against the AS 4419 specifications for Landscape Soils and Soil for Turf and Lawns. Our external soil lab has demonstrated this by assessing the chemical and physical soil properties against the Specification.
Use of our product
Scoria and screening are often used for drainage and decorative purposes. Recycled concrete is valuable for sustainable landscaping practices and can be used for pathways and structural elements. Crushed rock is a versatile material used for foundations, driveways, and various landscaping features. Soilworx's provision of these materials contributes significantly to the success of commercial landscaping endeavors.
Outcome
Not only did we supply 3,500 tonnes of specially blended soils that met highly detailed specifications (as well as hundreds of tonnes of Scoria, Screening, Recycled Concrete and Crushed Rock), our ability to navigate limited access using a range of vehicles plus support an extremely tight schedule saw Soilworx once again deliver a best on ground performance.
Our products related to this project
We are Soilworx, a prominent supplier of groundworks and foundation materials.
Explore our extensive range of products to discover more about what we offer.
Special Blend
“Special blend soil applications” signifies using customised soil—amendments and additives combinations to improve the quality and fertility of soil. The advantages of employing these specialised soil applications may...
Drainage 20mm
Aggregate drainage scoria, characterized by its 20 mm particle size, represents a volcanic rock variant frequently employed in diverse construction and landscaping contexts due to its unique characteristics.
Class 3 20mm/40mm
Wet Mix and/or Recycled available upon request. “Class 3 VicRoads crushed rock” designates a particular variety of crushed rock aggregate. The product has been carefully designed and crafted with great...
Class 2 20mm
Wet Mix and/or Recycled available upon request. In the context of VicRoads, the term “Class 2” designates a precise category of crushed rock material meticulously crafted to comply with specific criteria...
Case
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Normark
Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
Normark
Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
Normark
Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
Normark
Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
Normark
Established in 1977, Normark are a second generation family business specialising in landscape design and construction across Melbourne. "From inner-city Melbourne courtyards to large commercial open spaces, Normark will deliver."
