Melbourne Park has become a model for how major sporting venues can manage water sustainably while maintaining world-class facilities during peak demand.
At the centre of this work is Nathan Dallas, Melbourne Park’s Director of Infrastructure, who has spent 25 years working across infrastructure, construction and facilities management. His long-standing interest in sustainability has shaped how the precinct integrates stormwater harvesting, smart technology and a resilience-first mindset across its sporting and entertainment landscape.
The precinct’s mix of tennis arenas, football ovals, training grounds and public spaces requires a system that can scale quickly, adapt to Melbourne’s extreme climate and absorb peak demand during major events.
Dallas said this integrated approach is essential to ensuring the precinct remains efficient, responsive and future-ready.
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How does Melbourne Park keep its water supply stable?
Melbourne Park operates around an extensive stormwater harvesting and treatment system that captures runoff across roughly 18 hectares on the northern side of Olympic Boulevard. Installed in 2010 and expanded in 2019, the network includes a 4.5-megalitre storage tank that supports irrigation and amenities across the precinct.
“Our water demand naturally peaks during the summer months, so we schedule irrigation overnight to manage demand efficiently and reduce evaporation,” Dallas said.
Last year, the system delivered approximately 13,000 kilolitres of high-quality treated water, offsetting reliance on mains supply. To put the scale into context, Dallas noted this equates to more than five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Balancing water across multiple large venues demands precision.
Melbourne Park uses real-time sub-metering across nine main meters, enabling fast detection of anomalies and faults.
“We can identify usage peaks, leaks or anomalies instantly,” Dallas said. “In some instances, it has allowed us to detect faults well before they would normally be identified through billing data”.
These insights ensure the precinct remains responsive during simultaneous events, whether hosting crowds of 10,000 or 80,000 across a single evening.
How does the precinct respond to Melbourne’s extreme climate?
Melbourne’s summer heat, combined with pockets of winter drought and sudden periods of heavy rainfall, shapes how the precinct balances cooling, turf protection and long-term resilience.
“Melbourne Park’s water strategy is built around sustainability, resilience and efficiency,” Dallas said.
The stormwater harvesting and treatment system prioritises reclaimed water over potable supply, easing pressure on the broader metropolitan network and supporting irrigation across AAMI Park, Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Kia Arena, Centrepiece, the National Tennis Centre and the Tennis Australia headquarters.
Overnight irrigation reduces evaporation, while the high-quality treated water sustains turf and landscaping without adding pollutants.
Environmental sensors at AAMI Park feed soil moisture and weather data into automated irrigation programs.
“This maintains ideal turf conditions while conserving water,” Dallas said.
The horticulture team also uses drone-based thermal mapping to identify heat-stress areas. These insights guide targeted irrigation across AAMI Park, Goschs Paddock, and the adjacent football oval on Punt Road, which clubs including Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, and Melbourne Football Club use.
How is recycled water shaping precinct-wide efficiency?
The precinct’s reclaimed water network has significantly reduced potable consumption. But Dallas said the biggest lesson has been the importance of ongoing calibration and treatment plant optimisation.
“It maintains water quality and reliability to help with the high-intensity event periods,” he said. “We could have 10,000 people on one event night, or we could have 80,000 people walking through and using our facilities”.
Every new project begins with a sustainability brief that embeds water efficiency from the conceptual stage. This includes opportunities to expand stormwater capture, integrate recycled water into existing systems, and install water-saving fixtures.
Current investigations include a major expansion of the harvesting system to service Collingwood Football Club’s oval at the KGM Centre, AAMI Park’s main pitch and training grounds at Goschs Paddock. Early modelling indicates the upgrade could reduce irrigation demand by 18-20 megalitres per year.
“We believe the new system could cater for up to 20 per cent of the water consumption needed for those ovals,” Dallas said.
In addition to saving water and reducing costs, the upgrade would improve environmental outcomes by reducing the flow of pollutants into the Yarra River.
How does technology strengthen water resilience?
Smart systems underpin Melbourne Park’s ability to respond dynamically to weather, event schedules and demand spikes.
The precinct uses a dual monitoring approach, combining the VicFacilities metering platform with its SCADA control system. These tools provide real-time leak detection, usage tracking and operational alerts.
“The recycled water contributes to about 10 to 20 per cent of our monthly supply,” Dallas said.
SCADA monitors tank levels, pumps and alarms across all sites north of Olympic Boulevard, enabling rapid operational adjustments.
Smart metering and predictive analytics work alongside automated irrigation and HVAC optimisation. The precinct also uses the OpenBlue platform to manage its cooling water loop and maintain optimal commissioned setpoints.
“If they’re not within parameters, the system sends us real-time alerts,” Dallas said.
Design also contributes to water efficiency. Roof structures across key venues funnel stormwater into the harvesting network, while double-glazing and thermal facades reduce cooling loads. WELL-rated plumbing fixtures lower consumption further.
How does Melbourne Park protect players and spectators during the Australian Open?
The Australian Open brings unique challenges each January. Heat, hydration and cooling become paramount, and the precinct adjusts its operations to align with Tennis Australia’s heat policy.
Dallas said cooling is prioritised in key areas, such as the Champions Walk, where players enter Rod Laver Arena. Player treatment rooms, ice baths and misting fans are also strategically integrated across the site.
Three large retractable roofs close when temperatures exceed 38 degrees, and passive shading structures help manage radiant heat. Hydration stations located throughout the precinct encourage bottle refills, reducing waste.
“We’ve had over 100,000 bottles saved year to date,” Dallas said.
What does success look like for the precinct?
Weekly reviews, predictive maintenance and close coordination with capital works allow the team to manage more than 500 events each year without disrupting operations.
Cross-team collaboration between facilities management, hydraulic contractors and event crews is essential to maintaining continuity.
For Dallas, success is defined by reliability and long-term sustainability.
“Success means upholding the significant investment that’s been made in our water harvesting and treatment systems while continuously evolving them to meet changing needs,” he said.
Ultimately, it is about reducing potable water dependency, supporting elite sport and entertainment, and enhancing the experience of thousands of visitors each year.
“That is what getting it right looks like to me,” Dallas said.