New artificial turf pitch for Wellington College

The newly built artificial sportsfield at Wellington College has been opened to the public.

The all-weather facility is a partnership between College and Wellington City Council aimed at are easing pressure on grass sports fields in winter

The latest instalment in a network of artificial sportsfields across New Zealand's capital, the new pitch will mean fewer games are cancelled due to wet weather.

In the last three years, the Council has built three other artificial sportsfields: at Newtown, Island Bay and Khandallah. The Council also recently announced that a fifth all-weather playing surface will be installed at St Patrick's College in Kilbirnie - another partnership project that will benefit community and college sports.

Councillor John Morrison, the Council's Portfolio Leader for Sports and Events, says this is the first time the Council has partnered with a school to build an artificial turf.

This project is a great example of what can be done when local government and the community, in this case the college, work in partnership, Councillor Morrison stating "it's a perfect outcome because it benefits college sport and community sport and the cost to ratepayers is halved.

"The public will be able to book the turf Mondays to Thursdays after 5.30pm, on Saturday afternoons, all day on Sundays and up to half of school holiday periods."

The Council contributed $660,000, with Wellington College funding the balance. The college will own the field and be responsible for the upkeep of the turf and grounds.

Wellington City Council is proposing to spend NZ$4.1 million to install more artificial turfs in the northern and western suburbs in the next five years.

30th September 2010 - WELLINGTON GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR ANOTHER ARTIFICIAL TURF SPORTSFIELD