As part of ensuring the maximum impact on the Sol2023 Games legacy the National Hosting Authority engaged Regional Turf expert Mr. Laurie Stubbings as a consultant to manage the construction, maintenance and upkeep of sports turfs on various NHA constructed sports facilities within the city.
The NHA contracted the New Zealander given his vast knowledge and experience within the region and his distinguished track record of successful turf works within many countries across the region.
Since being contracted by the NHA in November 2022, Mr. Stubbings, has been assisted by NHA’s local Turf Assistant Mr. Dickson Ramota Riikwao and have progressively delivered outstanding work including the latest turf works at the 2023 Pacific Games Main Stadium, King George West.
To achieve high quality standards seen at the main stadium, enhanced with the support of proper machinery procured by NHA including: Seed spreader, Chemical Sprayer, a Tractor with specialized attachment’s, A specialized Baroness Mowing machine used for turfs and other smaller support tools for occasionally maintaining the turf.
The Construction of a natural turf field presents field builders with different challenges compared to the construction of a new artificial turf field. Sports fields with hybrid turf system are increasingly being installed in municipal areas, and there are also different types of construction.
Sufficient water permeability and the ability to store moisture and nutrients are prerequisites for a higher level of vegetation and are among the central tasks in sports field construction.
Under the supervision of Stubbings and the right support from contractor CCECC they have managed to seed and grow the Bermuda grass within 2 weeks and have recently started mowing the turf for the first-time last week.
A testament to the work and legacy that Mr. Stabbings leaves behind is Mr., Rueben Oimae of HILT company, who is also a proud apprentice of Mr. Stubbings.
NHA wants to ensure that local specialist Dickson Ramota Riikwao get the maximum amounts of training and learning experience from Stubbings, so that he can continue to maintain the quality and integrity of the sports turfs in the long run.
Dickson on the other hand has had much experience in the environment sector working as a volunterr landscaper with the Bahaii Faith in Israel for a bout a year before volunteering with the Solo Environment Beautification programe. His recent stint before coming to the work for the NHA was an Aborist, cutting tall trees within the city.
Solomon Islands 
Papua New Guinea 
