New Central Otago Hockey turf a step closer

The reality of a water based hockey turf and an accompanying amenities building has taken a giant leap forward with the Central Otago Sports Turf Trust having received a grant of $830,000 from Central Lakes Trust.

The grant will provide a significant boost in helping to upgrade the Cromwell sand based sports turf into a new water turf as well as providing a small warm up turf.

Funding will also be used to construct an amenities building at the turf site to provide changing rooms, toilets, showers, storage, a meeting room, kitchen and a first aid room. The turf is the headquarters for hockey in the Central Otago region and caters for 700 registered players from Queenstown, Wanaka, Roxburgh, Omakau, Alexandra and Cromwell.

Commenting on the plans, Central Otago Sports Turf Trust Chairman Michael Paardekooper stated “the current sand turf has deteriorated to the point it is now close to (being) a health and safety issue.

“This is the last sand hockey turf in New Zealand. Major hockey tournaments are no longer played on sand turfs.

“Because of this, to attract any major tournaments to Central Otago we must install a new water turf. Local Central Otago hockey players are at a disadvantage when competing outside Central Otago, as they play all tournaments on water turf.

“The amenities building has been on the ‘wanted’ list since day one of the Turf in 1996.”

Central Lakes Trust Chief Executive Paul Allison added “this facility has a proven track record. It is well managed, heavily used and provides an important sporting headquarters for hockey in the region.

“We believe that an upgrade to water based turf and an associated amenities building is critical for the future development of hockey in this region.

“Subsequently, this is the highest grant that the Trust has approved this year.”

This grant was one of sixteen totalling $1,458,487 recently approved by the Central Lakes Trust’s recent meeting.

Shotover Primary School received a grant of $175,000 that will be used to assist in the building of a community hall on the grounds of the new school which will open in the first term next year.

The floor space of 855 metre² is much larger than originally planned in order to incorporate a full size court with an increased roof height to enable more sporting codes to use the facility.

Click here to visit the Central Otago Sports Turf Trust's website.