Earthworks begin on Papatoetoe's multisport facility

After eight years of planning, grounds development work has begun for a new multisport grounds and facility on the Papatoetoe Recreation Grounds and Kingswood Recreation Reserve.
When completed, the $12 million project will provide a range of community sports grounds and facilities including: artificial hockey field, lighting towers, changing rooms, indoor practice nets, lounge areas and landscaping.
Being delivered by a partnership between the Papatoetoe Sports and Community Charitable Trust and Manukau City Council, the new complex is aimed at increasing participation in recreation and sport as well as promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
Deputy Mayor of Manukau and former first-class cricketer Gary Troup is a strong supporter of the project and is thrilled that construction is under way.
As Troup explained, "when completed this facility will be a great asset not just for the people of Papatoetoe but the wider Manukau community. It will go a long way to encouraging young people to participate in sports.
"Growing up a sports-mad kid in Papatoetoe I would have loved a complex like this right on my doorstep. The project is a real tribute to the determination and effort of Papatoetoe's sporting community."
Manukau City Council has contributed $8.6 million and the ASB Trust $1.7 million to the facility. The remaining funding of $1.7 million will be raised by the Trust.