A MILESTONE PROJECT SUPPORTING SPORT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY
Coolabah Turf has played a leading role in bringing to life one of Echuca’s most exciting new community assets: a world- class sporting oval at St Joseph’s College’s new Kildare Campus. The project marks a major milestone for the region, delivering a premium-grade TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda oval the size of the MCG, designed to support both elite school sports programs and the wider community.
A New Chapter for St Joseph’s College
The new Kildare Campus, located about five kilometres west of Echuca’s main Brigidine Campus, was established to cater to the college’s growing student population, particularly across Years 7 to 9. With more than 500 students on site, the inclusion of expansive green play space was a top priority in the planning process.
The school’s rich sporting culture, including a proud history of AFL success and collaborative links with European soccer clubs, demanded a surface capable of meeting professional performance standards. The result is a state-of-the-art sporting precinct featuring an AFL-specified oval and a future soccer pitch, with plans in place for additional athletic facilities.
Coolabah Turf
Coolabah Turf, based in Echuca, is renowned across Australia for producing premium instant turf for homes, schools, sports clubs, and public spaces. With a mission to inspire Australians to “ditch screen time for green time,” the company is deeply committed to projects that promote community wellbeing and outdoor recreation.
For this development, Coolabah Turf not only supplied the TifTuf turf but also provided ongoing consultancy throughout the planning, irrigation, installation, and establishment stages. Frequent site visits, expert guidance, and early-stage mowing programs ensured that the oval achieved the highest possible standard.
Project Timeline
Civil works commenced: July 2024 Irrigation installation: December 2024 Turf installation: January 2025 Opened for active use: August 2025
Reflecting their strong community values, Coolabah Turf also made a generous turf donation to help bring the project to life, a contribution that will benefit generations of students and athletes to come.
“We’re thrilled to see St Joseph’s students and the wider Echuca community gaining access to a premium sporting surface that will encourage active, outdoor lifestyles for years to come,” said Coolabah Turf.
Supporting a growing region
The new TifTuf oval represents more than just a school facility. It is a crucial addition to a region experiencing rapid population growth and increased demand for sporting infrastructure. Existing venues like Victoria Park, home to both the Echuca Senior and Junior Football Clubs, are operating at capacity and are soon to undergo major redevelopment works that will temporarily displace local programs.
Recognising this need, St Joseph’s College and the Echuca Junior Football Club forged a partnership that will see the oval shared for both training and competition from 2025 onwards. The AFL has supported the initiative with a $200,000 contribution toward high-quality lighting infrastructure, ensuring the facility is suitable for night training and community events.
Local collaboration has been central to the project’s success. The college’s project management team prioritised local expertise, engaging regional contractors for civil works, irrigation, and turf supply, a move that kept investment within the Echuca Moama economy. AFL Victoria and the Echuca Football and Netball Club also provided input to ensure the oval met official standards for performance and durability.
As the finishing touches are applied, excitement continues to grow among students, educators, and the local sporting community. The new facility stands as a testament to the power of local collaboration and to the role of regional businesses like Coolabah Turf in shaping greener, healthier, and more active communities across Australia.
