BRETT Davison is putting pressure on suppliers to come up with a special deal on a new shock pad and synthetic surface at Warwick hockey headquarters at Queen’s Park.

Davison hails from Melbourne and works for Team Sports, the suppliers of the new synthetic surface that was laid in mid-2009.

He confirmed yesterday what everyone knew; the shock pad as well as the synthetic needed replacement after two floods.

His company has put down 70 hockey surfaces in Australia and the one in Warwick is the most flood damaged he has seen.

“I have seen a few damaged tennis courts but the size of a tennis court is 60 squares compared to the 600 squares for a hockey field,” Davison said.

“I am in contact with the five suppliers of materials for the shock pad and synthetic, including the freight component, to try to get the best possible price for a new surface.”

If Team Sports was installing a new shock pad and synthetic at market price, the cost would be between $420,000 and $440,000.

Davison met with 10 hockey officials and players, Southern Downs Regional Council director of engineering Peter See and Councillor Neil Meiklejohn at Queen’s Park yesterday.

He said the synthetic at Grafton had withstood floodwater but it just seeps on the field.

“It was the velocity of the water here which does the damage,” Davison said.

“Something needs to be done to keep the water off the field.”

See was pleased to see how positive the association was at a tough time.

“Council will work with the association to get the best possible outcome,” See said.

“The association will need huge help from State and Federal governments as the damage is almost unprecedented.

“A turkey’s nest (mound) around the field is a possibility but that depends on the flood study.”

Association president Peter Pickering said the consensus was to re-lay a synthetic surface at Queens Park if it could be protected by a high levy bank.

“We will wait for the flood study before looking at the possibility of moving to another site.

“The cost of moving would be twice as much as fixing up Queen’s Park.”