PLA National Conference 2017
 

TOURS

Behind the Scenes – Creating Perfect Greens Tour

Date: Tuesday 24 October

Time: 8.00am start

Location: Meet at the RACV Tennis Courts.  Light breakfast provided

Places: Limited spaces available 

Tour RACV Royal Pines ‘Red Shed’ with Golf Course Superintendent Lincoln Coombes for a behind the scenes look at the equipment used to keep the course in peak playing condition.  Hosting a PGA tournament each December, Lincoln and his team of greenkeepers are charged with keeping this 27 hole resort course in championship condition 365 days of the year.  

Learning Outcomes

-          Insight in to the turf management practices and techniques used to keep the course in peak condition

-          Overview of mowing regimes for high end golf turf

-          Working with stakeholders to achieve a championship course

Lincoln Coombes, Golf Course Superintendent – RACV Royal Pines Resort

Lincoln Coombes has 30 years experience in the turf industry and has worked on various courses around Melbourne before becoming Superintendent at RACV Royal Pines Resort 6 years ago. Royal Pines consists of a championship 27 hole golf course, a driving range and a sporting pitch for soccer & rugby use.  Lincoln’s 17 staff include 4 horticulturalist, 1 mechanic, 8 qualified Turf Managers and 4 groundsmen.  The Australian Ladies Masters was held at Royal Pines for the last 22 years and the course is also host to the Australian PGA in early December for the 5th consecutive year


TECHNICAL TOURS

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY  

Tour 1: Join the adventure on the Commonwealth Games Mountain Bike Track 

Tour Host: Queensland Parks and Wildlife

Come and visit undoubtedly the City's number 1 bicycle destination. Delegates will have opportunity to ride on some sections of trail in Nerang National Park that will host the Commonwealth Games Mountain Bike race. Presentation by Qld Parks & Wildlife staff describing the process on how the MTB race course was designed and constructed. Learn how community volunteers from the 'Nerang Trail Care Alliance' are working with parks staff to achieve sustainable trail.

Stream: Management

Transport: Bus and mountain bike

What to bring: A hat, comfortable riding wear and covered shoes. Note: Bike, helmet and a back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

Limited places: 20


 

Tour 2: Pedal your way on a guided Tour of the Broadwater Parklands including the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre -  A major venue for the Commonwealth Games 2018 

 

Tour Host: Jeremy Hall and Trevor Jewell, City of Gold Coast

A guided tour of the Gold Coast's premier park - the Broadwater Parklands including the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (a major venue for the Commonwealth Games 2018). The Broadwater Parklands is a 3.5 kilometre community park located within Southport. Broadwater Parklands was opened in 1928 and redeveloped in 2009 for large community events and family fun. Take a guided tour of the park in a unique pedal car to really get a feel for how the park is used day in and day out.

Stream: Planning

Transport: Bus and peddle car

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

What to bring: A hat, comfortable riding wear and covered shoes.  Note: Peddle car, helmet and a back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Limited places: 20


 

Tours 3: Explore the new Gold Coast Indoor Sports Centre and Stadium at Carrara and experience the award winning and state of the art facilities of KDV SPORT

 

Tour Host: City of Gold Coast

A guided tour of the Gold Coast Indoor Sports Centre (a major venue for the Commonwealth Games 2018) and a tour of the recently developed KDV a modern, state of the art sporting complex providing specialist golf and tennis development using the latest technology available for the professional sportsperson.  Sate One includes an elite training facility comprising professional and qualified gold and tennis coaching, Trackman gold technology, undercover golf driving range, fitness centre, restaurant, function rooms, customised golf club fitting, swimming pool and tennis courts (Italian clay and hard-court) . 

Stream: Communicating

Transport: Bus

What to bring: A hat and comfortable shoes 

Note: A back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

Limited places: 30

 


 

Tour 4: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens – connecting community, conservation and cultural heritage to create a garden that is distinctly Gold Coast.

 

Tour Host:  Gardens Curator, Liz Caddick,

This Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens is less than 15 years old and, in that time has grown from a largely blank canvas into a green oasis in the heart of the city, showcasing the native plants and culture of the Southeast Queensland region.

This tour will take you along the Gardens’ journey, from the early days of lobbying by the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, through community participation in growing the gardens, the schools programme, the Green Army, the Friends herbarium and nursery, plus showcasing more recent projects such as the unique Kaialgumm Aboriginal Games Trail and the Story of our Country, which encourage visitors to explore the Gold Coast's cultural heritage.

Volunteer garden guides and the gardens Curator will show how Council and community have worked closely to create the gardens, and the many ways in which we engage the community, young and old, to encourage a lifelong interest in plants, nature, gardening and our indigenous culture.

Stream: Communicating

Transport: Walking (approx. distance from RACV to Gardens 3kms)

What to bring: A hat and comfortable shoes 

Note: A back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

Limited places: 30

 


 

Tour 5: Walk on the Wildside at Coombabah Lakelands. 

 

Hosts: Hosted by Rachael Chapman, Ranger and Saraya Robinson, Greening Officer

Take a guided bushwalk through Coombabah Lakelands, the largest conservation area managed by the City. The park protects more than 1200 hectares of wetland, eucalypt forest, salt marsh and mangrove habitat. Lake Coombabah and its estuarine system are listed as internationally significant RAMSAR wetlands, that provide valuable habitat for an array of migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia, China and Japan.

Learn about the management of the park, see firsthand the extensive ecological restoration works being undertaken to regenerate the bushland, discover the plants and animals that call Coombabah home and view Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Koalas in the wild. The walk will be followed by a small tree planting to assist with providing food and habitat for the local koala population.

Stream: Communicating

Transport: Bus

What to bring: A hat and comfortable shoes 

Note: A back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

Limited places: 40

 

Tour 6: Get Wet and Wild! @ The Gold Coast Recreation Centre and David Fleay Wildlife Centre



Tour Host: Murray Smith, Sport and Recreation Services, South East Region, Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, QLD

Slip on sunscreen and slap on a hat on a guided tour of the Gold Coast Recreation Centre and Tallebudgera Leisure Centre - Hosted by Department of National Parks Sport and Racing. This venue is a 420+ bed accommodation on Tallebudgera beach and adjacent to Tallebudgera Creek. The site features indoor court facilities, swimming pool, a Beach School, sports Oval, Indoor and Outdoor rock-climbing wall, squash, Multi-purpose outdoor courts, high-ropes and low-ropes facilities, dining hall. A wide variety of programs and packages are available.

Need more excitement?  Experience canoeing the pristine Talleubudgera Creek and get close to the animals at the David Fleay Wildlife Park.

Stream: Communicating

Transport: Bus

What to bring: Active wear (shorts, t-shirt, enclosed sneakers - a must for canoeing).  Be prepared to get hot and sweaty.

Note: A back pack with lunch, a snack and drink bottle provided

Depart RACV: 10.00am

Return RACV: 3.00pm

Limited places: 20

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