Racing Queensland officials have settled on a new couch grass for the controversial Eagle Farm track and awarded the contract for the supply and laying of the turf.
The job for the remediation project has been awarded to Tinamba Turf which has the necessary quantity and quality of Grand Prix couch grass available.
In his independent review of the Eagle Farm rebuild, Victorian racing administrator Dale Monteith recommended a more "angular" type of sand be used and kikuyu grass be replaced by couch.
In a statement released by Racing Queensland on Friday afternoon, it was claimed the new couch grass would "support a faster return to race day performance."
It is hoped the controversial track, closed down over the recent winter carnival, will be back ready for racing by April.
However that may be optimistic considering the final assessments are still being made on the best possible sand/loam mix for the base of the track.
"Peter Anderson from Sports Turf Consultants has almost completed testing and engineering of the blended profile which will deliver the best design for Queensland conditions," the RQ statement reads.
"The track remediation will take place in a systematic way with teams working to remove the old top layer, apply the sandy loam mix then lay the new turf.
"The projected date for the resumption of racing at Eagle Farm remains April, 2018."
