Our Community
Together time in nature
Merri and Adelaide enjoy visiting the oval together. “BCO is a beautiful, tranquil, natural space. Our community has shared this space for as long as I
Space to run free
Meet Ross, Beatle, Ziggy and Zeus. “We often bring our dogs Zeus and Ziggy for a run at the oval. Of course the pitch needs
A dash of copper
Due to their timid nature and quick reflexes, you may only ever see them dashing for cover as you approach. The Eastern Water Skink is
A whip-smart duet
Good luck trying to spot an Eastern Whipbird in the Gore Creek Reserve surrounding Bob Campbell Oval – their dark olive green plumage acts like
The Campaign for Grass
LC Council votes for new grass!
Hello friends of Bob Campbell Oval… NATURAL GRASS AT BCO IS NOW OFFICIAL!! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN!! At a
Great news from the new Council
Our friends at the Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society have posted the following news: ‘Lane Cove Council is holding an extraordinary meeting on Monday 24
SMH: ‘Sydney councils in turf war over natural or plastic fields’
The risk of saying goodbye to less than $1 million helped sway a Sydney council to allow a synthetic sports field on a flood basin
Q&A with Dr Mick Battam – you’re invited
Please join us for a Q&A session with Soil Scientist Dr Mick Battam: 7.30pm Wednesday 1 December Greenwich Sailing Club, O’Connell St. We’re really keen
Ask the scientist
Dr Battam, Soil Scientist, identifies four key issues that have led to the poor performance of Bob Campbell Oval, all of which can be rectified.
>>Why new generation natural turf can work at BCO
Dr Battam, Soil Scientist, explains why natural turf can carry high loads at BCO, but it requires a totally different approach – amended soil, new turf types, different maintenance regimes. Links to a case study.
The resilience of natural grass
>>Mosman Football Club – Making natural turf work
Richard Pike, President of Mosman Football Club, talks about the results of choosing new natural turf instead of synthetic.
>>Middle Head Oval: case study
Carolyn Corrigan, the Mayor of Mosman, talks about the decision to choose new generation natural turf for Middle Head Oval, instead of synthetic.
About Bob Campbell Oval
Bob Campbell Oval, or Gore Creek Reserve, is a little slice of heaven on Sydney Harbour. It sits at the bottom of a creek that winds up through Lane Cove and is one of the last remaining natural creeks on the harbour.
Gore Creek reserve was established around the time of the formation of the Greenwich Sports Club in 1936. The site was named as a heritage site within the Lane Cove Council’s Local Environment Plan Lane Cove Council due to its immense heritage and ecological value. This greenspace is an important social hub for the community, hosting a large oval, a playground, picnic facilities, outdoor fitness equipment, toilets, BBQ facilities and waterfront access.
Today Bob Campbell Oval is home to sporting clubs, dogs and their walkers, community groups and gatherings, locally organised sporting fixtures and large community events such as the Greenwich Village Games (https://gvg.org.au/).
A plastic sports pitch dedicated to one or two sports would change the context of this wonderful green space and potentially see some of these lost to the community.
Natural Grass @ BCO acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands where we live and we pay our respects to all the First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.
