A combination of factors - including the sand profile, project scope and restricted supervision amidst Covid lockdowns - have been provided for the Neerim South oval failure.
Former Baw Baw Shire councillor Darren Wallace continued his push for answers at a recent council meeting, asking "what went wrong?"
"Does this mean ratepayers will have to pay the full price for this failure?" Mr Wallace pushed.
Less than four years after undergoing a $700,000 surface upgrade, council admitted late last year the Neerim South oval required "a full redesign and rebuild."
Answering Mr Wallace's questions, Baw Baw Shire chief interim executive officer Cohen Van der Velde said the oval's drainage effectiveness was limited by a range of factors. These included performance and adequacy of the sand profile; sub-surface drainage spacing and backfill; surface profile; reactivity of subgrade; and, thickness of thatch layer.
Factors contributing to the situation included pre-existing ground conditions; project scope and corresponding budget; design; construction and materials; restricted supervision amidst Covid lockdowns; and, increased usage by user groups, Mr Van der Velde added.
He said council would continue to monitor and maintain the oval across the upcoming football season.
"Should the condition of the oval deteriorate, council will discuss and work with the user groups around the usage of the playing surface," Mr Van der Velde said.
Responding to a question on who would pay for proposed redesign and rebuild works, he said council could budget for a range of funding sources "which may include external funding opportunities."
Asked if a post review of the overall $1.5 million project had been held, Mr Van der Velde said that council had introduced a major projects team in early 2021 to oversee planning, design and delivery of major infrastructure projects.
He said this aimed to improve all aspects of project delivery, some which may have "contributed to the situation at Neerim South."