A plan to re-turf a parasite-ravaged sports field is in disarray after the Town of Cambridge revealed the works are now almost half a million dollars over budget.

Wembley Sports Park in Jolimont is undergoing upgrades after the oval was found to be in declining health, leading to the council greenlighting a massive makeover project in December 2023 to fix issues including drainage, soil structure, and irrigation system.

But the project is now facing a proverbial fork in the road after town workers revealed the complete repair bill had skyrocketed from $660,000 to $1.013 million in the space of 12 months.

What was originally planned — including removing the existing turf, importing improved soil and installing wintergreen couch grass — is no longer the recommended course of action, with Cambridge council looking at cheaper “alternative scopes” to get the park ship-shape before this winter’s football season.

These include using liquid fertilisers to maintain the soil, sand infill to de-compact the surface and ongoing monitoring of sting nematode testing.

The sap-sucking parasite was first spotted at the oval in 2021 and has been largely blamed for causing the grass quality to plummet.

The tiny worms feed on sugars produced by turf, causing discoloured patches of grass, and there is no practical way to stop them.

To make matters worse, the parasites thrive in dry and sandy soil, which is also an issue at the home of A-grade amateur club Wembley Magpies.

The Magpies have endured a muddy slip and slide home field due to drainage issues for the past few seasons, with injuries a constant risk.

“Running through the middle of the ground, there’s no grass whatsoever, it’s pure slip and slide, so we’ve had a number of players twist ankles and knees and spend a number of weeks away from the footy club due to injuries,” former president Greg Stewart told PerthNow last season.

In a report to the council, town officers admitted the initial cost estimate for repairs had been rushed and not based on a detailed scope of works.

“A preliminary opinion of probable costs was prepared for the project with an estimate of $660,000 based on some initial higher level construction rates and costs from suppliers and consultants,” the report reads.

“Given the urgency of works, the detailed scope wasn’t finalised in time for accurate budget forecasting.”

A decision on the cheaper solutions is expected to be made at this Tuesday’s council meeting so the works can be complete before football starts in April.

“The irrigation, drainage and renovation works will be planned in the first quarter of 2025 to ensure the oval is ready for the AFL season,” town officers said in a report.

“The operational budget will be increased to improve ongoing maintenance of the town’s sports grounds in response to the sting nematode infestation.”

New sleeved goal posts are also likely, enabling them to be shifted to address goal square wear and tear during the season.