TurfSync Pro - Manningham City Council

Project summary

Located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Manningham City Council manages more than 30 natural turf playing surfaces which are used year-round for football, soccer, cricket, and baseball. These community facilities are vital for local sport and recreation, requiring consistent monitoring to maintain quality and safety across the municipality.

Since January 2024, the Council has used TurfSync Pro to carry out monthly condition assessments, providing a complete and data-driven understanding of each ground’s performance.

We caught up with Scott Prince, Senior Officer Active Space and Water Services, and Tim Wise, Leading Hand & Turf Specialist – Active Space, to discuss their use of TurfSync Pro in managing their sportsfields*

Challenges

Prior to adopting TurfSync Pro, Manningham City Council relied on iAuditor for basic sportsfield condition assessments and work order generation. While functional, the system offered limited insight and made it difficult to extract meaningful, actionable information.

Tim Wise, explains, “The condition assessments in iAuditor were very basic and didn’t provide much insight.” 

The council needed a more visual and intuitive reporting tool to communicate field conditions with local clubs and justify usage decisions, particularly during high-demand winter months.

Warrandyte Reserve

Solutions

TurfSync Pro was introduced to deliver consistent, detailed, and data-rich assessments across all venues, carried out monthly by Tim Wise. The platform’s traffic light dashboard and reporting tools allow staff to instantly visualise surface performance and identify early warning signs.

“Once you start seeing amber, you know there’s an issue developing,” Tim explains. “That’s when we can step in early with preventative work before it becomes a major problem.”

The system also complements existing workflows.

“We still use iAuditor for inspections and work order generation,” says Tim. “TurfSync Pro adds the layer of turf condition data that was missing before. It captures all the key criteria that influence surface condition and gives us a much clearer picture”.

The platform has also enhanced communication with clubs and the wider recreation team, providing clear, evidence-based information to support decisions on field usage.

Results

TurfSync Pro has transformed how Manningham City Council monitors, maintains, and manages its sportsfields by providing:

  • Data driven decision making – Objective evidence supports discussions with clubs and ensures sustainable usage levels.
  • Clear communication – Visual dashboards and reports make it easy for all stakeholders to understand field conditions at a glance.
  • Proactive maintenance – Historical data highlights recurring issues and helps plan future maintenance and capital works.
  • Confidence in decision making

 

“We’re not just making a judgement call,” says Tim. “We’re showing clear, objective evidence, and clubs have never questioned the data.”

Senior Officer Active Space and Water Services, Scott Prince adds, “Having historical data allows us to be proactive rather than reactive. It also strengthens our ability to build a business case for capital works by showing clear trends and evidence over time.”

TurfSync Pro has provided Manningham City Council with the tools and insights needed to make informed, evidence-based decisions on sportsfield management. Through better communication, proactive planning, and reliable data, the Council continues to deliver safe, high-quality, and sustainable playing surfaces for its community.