Suncorp Stadium flood may need an open chequebook

The devastating images of floodwaters at Suncorp Stadium may require an open chequebook according to Turf Research Scientist Bernie Proctor.

As Australian's come to grips with the flood tragedy, many Queenslanders are dismayed at the level of inundation at their favourite sports ground.

Austadiums talked to our expert on turf Bernie Proctor about the flood and the impact this will have for future sporting events at Brisbane's largest stadium.

The flooding at Suncorp Stadium and the resulting fire in the generator room was a shocking reality for Proctor.

"I was shocked on so many different levels... The severity of which the flooding hit the city of Brisbane and the way it inundated Suncorp. The fire in the generator room, was really, for me, the 'final straw' on just how much they can go through"

Proctor said there was no way for the turf to be protected considering the amount of water that flooded Brisbane.

"This was a 1/100 year event, last flooded in 1974 and I would suspect that it may not happen again, for many years to come. "

"As I understand it, the shorting of the power generation system may have been a contributing factor. Had there been electricity to pump out excess water, (in this event) where would the water have gone? There was simply too much water for the site, and Brisbane and the rest of Queensland, to manage."

"Risk assessments should now be carried out to ensure their systems (secure energy source) are guaranteed for any type of future event, whether it being similar to this, or even just a power failure"

The cost to repair the Suncorp playing surface may need an open chequebook.

"Do they have an opencheque book? It's hard to even speculate without knowing what's under the water, timeframe of it draining/subsiding. Also, as to the timeframe it may take to dry. Clearly, by the cancellation of the Soccer this coming Sunday, it's a sign that they may not have a playable surface for some time to come."

The water on the playing surface will cause damage, but not as much damage had the flood impacted upon the Gabba, which has been cleared for Sunday's Twenty20 cricket match between Queensland and NSW.

"Muddy water, or in fact any form of water, over a surface for extended periods of time, is never a good thing. However, the level and type of silt of particulates within it will have a varied effect on the differing surfaces that becomes flooded. For instance, if it was the Gabba flooded instead of Suncorp, the last thing the wicket square would want is larger particle sized sand and other organic material sitting on the surface."

"Sure, high silt material will, inadvertently, cause blockages to drainage systems and so on, and these can be cheaply cleaned (compared to an overall rebuild), but it will ultimately affect the infiltration/percolation rate of the profile."

It is likely that many truckloads of silt from the flooded waters will need to be trucked out before a new surface could be laid.

Proctor says that the modelling of Suncorp Stadium would have unlikely considered the 1/100 year flood impact, but in the future the Trust could look at better drainage for freak events.

"This 1/100 rain event, would never have been modelled and is, as being reported, a true freak of nature. They may, depending on the drainage of the surface, increase the particle size for any future events, but this would have to be a consideration by the Trust or site managers."

The tragedy in Brisbane has been extreme, but a story a stadium journalist can tell is what impact it would have on a curator. As a former curator Proctor delivers a sign of what it would be like to see your turf under 3-4 metres of water.

"Coming to a site after a rain event like the current situation in Brisbane and in fact, Queensland, is nothing short of depressing. After, often weeks/months of preparing, caring & maintaining a surface, to know that there is literally nothing you can do to stop it, is possibly the only comforting factor, not to mention the work you will have to return it to its former glory."

"Certainly the footage that is has, almost, gone viral around the world is devastating".

The period of time to return the Suncorp pitch to its former glory could be a long one.

"I would suspect that the top 50-100mm (maybe more) will be sliced off, fresh sand and a new surface laid. This is, of course that a suitable turf surface is not also affected by flooding at their supplier, as most major stadiums like this and ANZ in Sydney, would have a complete surface at a farm, being treated exactly the same in case of emergencies like this."

For sports fans the message is Suncorp Stadium will take a while to recover from a 1/100 year flood event.