Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council staff are pointing the finger at turf contractors over an infestation of microscopic soil pests in reserves that will cost ratepayers at least $230,000 to control.

Sting nematodes thrive in Perth’s sandy soils and damage turf grass by feeding on the roots.

A council report says the tiny worms have hit several reserves, with Lightning Park, Wotton Reserve, Frank Drago Reserve, Beaufort Park and Gibbney Oval the worst affected.

Staff note that sting nematode counts are very high where contractors have imported turf and nil in all other surveyed areas.

“Sting nematode infestation is particularly problematic…and almost exclusively in areas where turf was imported for re-turfing at the end of winter play,” the report states.

Council spokesperson Julia Kogan says current practices require contractors to perform an analysis of turf for nematodes prior to delivery.

“The city is not currently taking any legal action over this issue,” she says.

The city is refusing to name the turf contractors involved.

Council staff say there is no effective chemical treatment and the only way to treat the pests is through compost injections and over-sowing, which costs around $23,000 per hectare.

“It is suggested that these increased maintenance costs should be considered when evaluating future requests for artificial turf on heavily used sports grounds,” wrote council staff.

Meanwhile, agriculture professor Mike Jones from the Murdoch University-based plant biotechnology research group says researchers are looking at an entirely new method of controlling nematodes based on identified target genes, but it is dependent on funding.

“Down the line there may be genetically modified nematode resistant turf grass, but this may be for the future,” he wrote.

Nematode infestation affects several councils and in 2013 Bayswater agreed to to grant UWA $13,500 over three years for sting nematode research.

The project fell through when other councils failed to pony up some cash.

Council staff recommend artificial turf, different grass species and reduced oval bookings as alternatives to expensive treatment.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK