Australian Sports Turf Consultants

A provider of independent agronomic and specialist sports turf consultancy services across Australia.

Australian Owned

Australian Sports Turf Consultants (ASTC) is an Australian owned and operated company based in Brisbane. ASTC provides independent turf consultancy services to stadia and elite sporting codes, council and government authorities, sporting clubs, schools and universities, golf and bowls clubs, horse racing tracks, construction and maintenance companies, and the turf production industry. ASTC also carries out research and extension activities for Australian and international turf related industries.

Greenshed Pty Ltd t/a Australian Sports Turf Consultants.

Australian Sports Turf Consultants is on the Local Buy panel for the following categories:

Landscape, Gardening and Arboricultural Service (LB305); and
Public Areas Facilities, Parks & Amenities (LB304).

Our Clients

ASTC works with and consults to a diverse range of government and industry bodies, sporting organisations and companies.

Our business clients include:

Sport stadiums
Elite sporting codes
Councils and government bodies
Community sports clubs, horse racing tracks, golf and bowls clubs, schools and universities
Turf maintenance and commercial construction companies
Specifiers, architects, engineers, developers, builders and landscapers
Turf producers and peak industry bodies

Our Proud Partners and Supporters

Matt Roche

Senior Scientific Consultant

DApSc BApSc MPhil

Matt Roche is the Director of Australian Sports Turf Consultants. Matt has 22 years’ experience in the sports turf industry and was previously employed as the Senior Research Scientist within the Queensland Governments former turf research program.

Matt has provided consultancy services to major sport facilities, sporting clubs and local councils across Australia. Matt is frequently asked to present on the latest research, technical improvements within the turf industry at state and national conferences and workshops.

Matt Roche is also the developer of TurfFinder.com. Turf Finder is an independent web site developed to provide factual information to assist professional turf managers and homeowners on selecting the best available turfgrass to meet their needs and how to maintain it

Qualifications

2013 Master of Philosophy, Turf Science, University of Queensland

2002 Bachelor of Applied Science, University of Queensland

2000 Diploma of Applied Science, University of Queensland

1998 Certificate III Horticulture, Moreton Institute of TAFE

Professional & Industry Responsibilities

April 2024 to present appointed to Hort Innovation’s Turf Industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP)

2023 to present Member within the Register of Independent Professional Turfgrass Agronomists (RIPTA)

2002 to present Qualified Person (ID#1655) for Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) testing

2005 to present International Turfgrass Society Member

2008 to 2018 Treasurer, Sports Turf Association Queensland Inc (STA QLD)

2012 to 2014 Scientific Committee Member, 3rd International Conference on Turfgrass Management & Science for Sportsfields, Brisbane Australia

2013 to 2019 Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association Member

2015 to present Sports Turf Managers Association Member

Cameron McIntosh

Project Manager

DipProgtMgt BA

Cameron joins ASTC as a highly experienced Sports Manager and Administrator with over 12 years in the field both nationally and internationally.

Cameron has worked with numerous schools, sporting clubs, tertiary institutes, National and State Sporting Organizations in the planning, implementation and delivery of best practice sporting projects.

Qualifications

2015 Diploma of Project Management, Global Training Institute

2005 Bachelor of Arts, Sports Studies, University of Queensland

Stephen Parke

Sports Turf and Irrigation Technician

Cert III Hort

Stephen has over 12 years’ experience maintaining and managing local government community sports fields both in NSW and QLD. He has a keen understanding of maintenance practices and procedures that will aid and assist in producing the optimum playing surface.

For the last few years Stephen has worked as an irrigation consultant helping golf clubs, sporting venues and councils with any of their irrigation needs. He has helped trouble shoot problem areas and provided solutions to allow systems to operate effectively and at their most efficient.

Qualifications

Certificate III Horticulture, Padstow TAFE

Publications

To keep abreast of research, development and extension activities being undertaken by Australian Sports Turf Consultants (ASTC), the following drop down menus provide additional information, reports, papers etc.

This includes research results and turf management advice which has been disseminated through scientific and non-referred papers, articles in trade magazines and presentations made at a national and international level.

Scientific papers and technical articles

Contributing Australian Sports Turf Consultants (ASTC) staff include:

Matt Roche, Director.
Selection of Refereed Scientific Papers:

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2005) Morphological and Developmental Comparisons of Seven Greens Quality Hybrid Bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] Cultivars. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Vol. 10: 627-634.

Roche, M.B., Zeller, L.C., Loch, D.S., Poulter R.E. (2007) Measuring the Traction Profile on Sportsfields: Equipment Development and Testing. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 783:399-414.

Loch, D.S., Roche, M.B., Sun-Yue, J., Arief, V., Delacey, I.H., & Lambrides, C.J. (2009) Characterisation of Commercial Cultivars and Naturalized Genotypes of Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze in Australia. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Vol. 11: 549-561.

Roche, M.B., Loch, D.S., Penberthy, J.D.L., Durant, C.R. & Troughton, A.D. (2009) Factors Contributing to Wear Tolerance of Bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., C. dactylon x transvaalensis Burtt-Davey] on a Sand-Based Profile under Simulated Sportsfield Conditions. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Vol. 11: 449-459.

Roche, M.B., Penberthy, J.D. and O’Brien, L. (2013) Use of Trinexapac-Ethyl to reduce mowing requirements of warm-season grasses in Subtropical Australia. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Vol. 12: 829-830. (216kb)

Lambrides, C.J., Zhou, Y., Fukai, S., Jewell, M., Loch, D., Godwin, I., Holton, T., Innes, D., Frere, C., Hanna, W., Ye, C., Tran, T. V., Ngo, T., Le, T., Cao, N., Dabbagh, H. A., O’Brien, C., Roche, M., Fullelove, G., Ballard, E., Kearns, R., Pearce, W., Hacker, A., Puachuay, M., Shelton, M., Dalzell, S., Anderson, B., Harris-Shultz, K. & Cremer, J. (2013) EcoTurf- a Case study: Genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Vol. 12: 263-266.

Zhou, Y., Van, T.T., Pearce, W., Williams, S., Roche, M., Loch, D., Fukai, S. & Lambrides, C. (2015) Mechanisms for Wear Tolerance among Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) Genotypes: Cell Wall Components and Leaf Anatomy. Acta Horticulturea, Vol.: 1099, 843-850. (755kb)

Zhou Yi, Lambrides Christopher J., Roche Matthew B., Duff Alan, Fukai Shu (2013) Temporal and spatial patterns of soil water extraction and drought resistance among genotypes of a perennial C4 grass. Functional Plant Biology, Vol. 40: 379–392.

Roche, M.B. (2013) Characterisation of vegetative bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for turf use in Australia, MPhil thesis, University of Queensland, St Lucia. (PDF,1.9MB)

Horticulture Australia research projects

Loch, D.S., Roche, M.B., Lack, D.W. & Lees, T.W. (2005) TU00011: Chemical Phytotoxicity Testing Facility for Warm-Season Turfgrasses. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Collaborating Scientist.

Loch, D.S., Poulter, R.E., Roche, M.B., Carson, C.J., Lees, T.W., O’Brien, L. & Durant, C.R. (2006) TU02005: Amenity grasses for salt-affected parks in coastal Australia. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Collaborating Scientist.

Roche, M.B., Loch, D.S. & Durant, C.R. (2006) TU04006: Extension of Chemical Phytotoxicity Testing Facility for Warm-Season Turfgrasses. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

McAuliffe, K. & Roche, M. B. (2009) TU06019: Best Use Modelling for Sustainable Australia Sports Field Surfaces. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Senior Technician.

Roche, M. B. & Neylan, J. (2010) TU05001: Management Guideline for New Warm-Season Grasses in Australia. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

Roche, M.B., Penberthy, J.D. & Bauer, B.K. (2010) TU06008: Extension of Chemical Phytotoxicity Testing Facility for Warm-Season Turfgrasses. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

McAuliffe, K. & Roche, M. B. (2011) TU09039: Developing new innovative technology for benchmarking turf grass performance. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Collaborator.

McAuliffe, K. & Roche, M. B. (2012) TU10015: Ryegrass transitioning in couch turf. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Senior Technician.

Roche, M. B. (2012) TU09002: Improvement and maintenance of turf demonstration plots for national research and extension. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

Roche, M. B., Penberthy, J.D. & O’Brien, L. (2012) TU08018: Traffic Tolerance of Warm-Season Turf Grasses under Community Sports Field Conditions. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

Roche, M.B. (2013). TU09001: Adaptation of warm-season turf grasses for tropical Australia. Final Project Report for Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). Role in project: Project Leader.

Turf industry magazine articles

Roche, M., Zeller, L. & Loch, D. (2006) Putting science behind traction measurement. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 8 (5) 40-44. (PDF, 590KB)

Roche, M. (2007) Thatch or fiction. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 9 (6) 44-46. (PDF, 549KB)

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2007) Wear Tolerance Studies on Bermudagrass at Redlands Research Station. New Zealand Turf Management Journal 22 (4) 22-26.

McAuliffe, K. Roche, M. B. & Loch, D.S. (2008) Multi-use stadia workshop and Cynodon wear tolerance trials. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 10(1) 40-42. (PDF, 333KB)

Roche, M.B. (2008) Loch scales down QDPI&F research role. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 10 (2) 56. (PDF, 171KB)

Roche, M.B. (2008) Project to BUMP up sports field surface quality. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 10 (4) 82-83. (PDF, 298KB)

Roche, M.B. (2008) PBR’s vital role in turfgrass future. TurfCraft International. 121 Jul-Aug. 54-56.

Roche, M.B. (2008) Modelling for sustainable sportsfields. TurfCraft International. 121 Jul-Aug. 13.

Roche, M.B. (2009) Grass roots promotes wear trial. TurfCraft International. 125 Mar-Apr. 30-32.

Roche, M.B. (2009) The ‘rights’ stuff. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 11 (3) 48-49. (PDF, 303KB)

Roche, M.B. (2009) Warm-Season Greens Grass Trial Field Day – May 9. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal. 11 (4) 66.

Roche, M. B. (2010) Grass roots wear and tear. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 12 (2) 40-43. (PDF, 545KB)

Roche, M.B., Penberthy, J. & Neylan, J. (2010) Management guidelines for new warm-season grasses. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 12 (3) 62-64.

Roche, M.B. (2010). Study documents turf wear. The Redland Times, Friday May 28, p. 11.

Roche, M.B. (2010) Turf wearability and recovery of community sportsfields. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 12 (4) 52-55. (PDF, 538KB)

Roche, M.B. (2010) Tough turf put to the test, My Sunshine Coast, General News, 1/12/2010.

Roche, M.B. (2010) Tough turf put to the test, Bayside Bulletin, 14/12/2010, General News, Page 50.

Roche, M.B. (2011) DEEDI wear tolerance trials extended. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 13 (2) 42-43. (PDF, 346KB)

Roche, M.B. (2011) Hong Kong turfies benefit from Down Under nous. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 13 (2) 40-41. (PDF, 488KB)

Roche, M.B. (2012) Redlands turf research collection. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 14 (1) 48. (PDF, 570KB)

Roche, M.B. and Penberthy, J.D. (2012) Community Sportsfield Wear Trial Update. TurfCraft International . 143 Mar-Apr. 38-41.

Roche, M.B. (2012) Warm-season wear trials wind up. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 14 (3) 68-730. (PDF, 765KB)

Roche, M.B. (2012) Turf tested in the tropics. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 14 (5) 54-57 (PDF, 713KB)

Roche, M.B. (2012) Playing on solid ground. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 14 (5) 58-59. (PDF, 420KB)

Roche, M.B. (2012) Wear tolerance tested on fields. TurfCraft International. 146 Sep-Oct. pp. 58-59.

Roche, M.B. (2012) Turf performance compared in the tropics. TurfCraft International. 146 Sep-Oct. pp. 59 & 62.

Roche, M.B. (2013). Redlands era comes to an end. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 15 (1) 50-51. (PDF, 383KB)

Roche, M.B. (2013). Redlands work ends, future good. TurfCraft International. 148 Jan-Feb. pp. 55-56.

Roche, M.B. (2019). On the right wicket. Australian Turfgrass Management Journal 20 (4) 64-65. (PDF, 217 KB)

Proceeding (non-referred) papers

Roche, M.B, Penberthy, J.D., & Loch, D.S. (2007). Update on Warm-Season Turfgrass Trials: Evaluation of New Greens Grasses. 23^rd Australian Turfgrass Conference, Cairns pp. 64-67. (PDF, 345KB)

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2007) Shade and Wear Tolerance Studies on Turfgrasses at Redlands Research Station. 23^rd Australian Turfgrass Conference, Cairns pp. 108-112.

Roche, M.B. (2009) Best Use Modelling for Sustainable Sports Field Surfaces in Australia. 25^th Australian Turfgrass Conference, Hobart. pp. 97-100.

Roche, M. B. (2010). Australian Warm-Season Greens Grass Trial. Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia, Pattaya. pp. 49-130.

Roche, M. B. (2010). Turfgrass Management Options for Greens Quality Cynodon Hybrid and Seashore Paspalum Grasses on the basis of Trial Work undertaken in Australia. Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia, Pattaya. pp. 131-162.

Roche, M. B. (2010). Turf and Sports Injury – Associated Problems and Preventative Measures. Turf 10 National Turf Conference, Trade Expo and Race Day, Hawkesbury. pp. 4-8.

Roche, M. B. (2010). Management Guideline for New Warm-Season Grasses in Australia. 26^th Australian Turfgrass Conference, Gold Coast pp.87-97. (PDF, 425KB)

Roche, M.B. (2010). Background to the approved beneficial Cynodon spp. vegetative cultivars within Australia. 26^th Australian Turfgrass Conference, Gold Coast pp. 98-120.

Roche, M.B. (2013).Traffic Tolerance of Warm-Season Turfgrasses under Community Sportsfield Conditions. 29^th Australian Turfgrass Conference, Sunshine Coast, in press.Roche, M., Penberthy, J.D. & O’Brien, (2013). Use of trinexapac‐ethyl to reduce mowing requirements of warm‐season grasses in sub‐tropical Australia. 12^thInternational Turfgrass Society Research Conference, Beijing, pp. 829-830.

Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) journal publications

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, Seashore Paspalum ‘SeaIsle 1’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (2): 64.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, Seashore Paspalum ‘Sea Isle 2000’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (2): 65.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, Seashore Paspalum ‘TFWA02’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (2): 65.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass, Bermuda Grass ‘Hatfield’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):219-222.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass, Bermuda Grass ‘JT1’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):252-255.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Cynodon transvaalensis x Cynodon dactylon Hybrid Green Couch Grass, Hybrid Bermuda Grass ‘MS-Supreme’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):299-302.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Zoysia japonica Zoysia Grass ‘Palisades’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):395-397.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Cynodon transvaalensis x Cynodon dactylon Hybrid Green Couch Grass, Hybrid Bermuda Grass ‘TL2’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):407-410.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2003). Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass‘TL1’. Plant Varieties Journal 16 (4):412-415.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2004). Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass ‘Oz-E-Green’. Plant Varieties Journal 17 (1): 497-499.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2004). Stenotaphrum secundatum Buffalo Grass ‘Sir James’. Plant Varieties Journal 17 (1): 535-538.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2006) Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass, Bermuda Grass ‘Grand Prix’. Plant Varieties Journal 18 (4): 96-104.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2006) Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Grass, Bermuda Grass ‘Winter Gem’. Plant Varieties Journal 18 (4): 105-110.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2007). Cynodon transvaalensis x Cynodon dactylon Hybrid Green Couch Grass, Hybrid Bermuda Grass ‘P18’. Plant Varieties Journal 20 (3): 156-161.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2007). Stenotaphrum secundatum Buffalo Grass ‘TF01’. Plant Varieties Journal 20 (4): 45, 141-150.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2008) Cynodon transvaalensis x Cynodon dactylon Hybrid Green Couch Grass, Hybrid Bermuda Grass ‘AGRD’. Plant Varieties Journal 21 (1): 140-144.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2008) Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, Seashore Paspalum ‘SDX-1’. Plant Varieties Journal 21 (1): 291-299.

Roche, M.B. & Loch, D.S. (2008) Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, Seashore Paspalum ‘SI98’. Plant Varieties Journal 21 (1) 284-291.

Loch, D.S. & Roche, M.B. (2008) Chloris gayana, Rhodes Grass ‘KP4’. Plant Varieties Journal 21 (1): 202-206.

Roche, M.B. (2008) Zoysia matrella, Manila Grass ‘A-1’. Plant Varieties Journal 21 (1): 382-386.

Roche, M.B. (2010) Sporobolus virginicus, Sand Couch ‘QLD-Coast’. Plant Varieties Journal 23 (2) 95, 303-308.

Roche, M.B. (2010) Cynodon dactylon, Green Couch ‘Gullygold’. Plant Varieties Journal 23 (2) 57,169-173.

Roche, M.B. (2013) Stenotaphrum secundatum Buffalo Grass ‘TBLL’. Plant Varieties Journal 25 (4) 61, 211-216.

Roche, M.B. (2015) Cynodon dactylon Green Couch ‘UQ-490’. Plant Varieties Journal 28 (2) 55, 138-142.

Roche, M.B. (2015) Cynodon dactylon Green Couch ‘UQ-539’. Plant Varieties Journal 28 (2) 57, 148-152.

Roche, M.B. (2015) Cynodon dactylon Green Couch ‘UQ-545’. Plant Varieties Journal 28 (2) 56, 143-147.

Roche, M.B. (2015) Leucaena pallida x Leucaena leucocephala Leucaena ‘BL-12’. Plant Varieties Journal 28 (2) 82, 262-265.