Located in a historic mining town, the Maldon Primary School is situated on a moderately sloped site with ample outdoor play areas including a makeshift sports ground situated at the front of the administration building. This area was difficult to maintain due to its soil condition, a legacy of the local mining history. AOA was engaged to design a modern synthetic grass sports ground with an abridged soccer field, cricket pitch and two-lane running track to replace the existing natural ground surface. As well as having to consider the slight gradient of the existing sports playing area, there were issues in having to deal with low-level soil contamination. 300mm of topsoil was excavated for disposal and the new multi coloured playing field for the sixty eight local students also heightened the grandeur of the front entry sequence.