Report urges better co-ordination of sports facilities

A report into sporting facilities in the far North Island town of Kaitaia urges facility providers to work together to provide a complementary mix of indoor, outdoor and aquatic facilities for the community.

An independent study commissioned by the Far North District Council has investigated Kaitaia’s current range of sport and recreation facilities to identify unmet recreational needs and recommend how best to meet future demands.

The Kaitaia Sport Infrastructure Plan, completed last month, says existing facilities, such as the indoor basketball, netball and tennis courts at Kaitaia College, the indoor facilities at Te Rangi Āniwaniwa and the facilities at Moerua Park (including the proposed Te Hiku Sports Hub), can and should be optimised through a coordinated approach to their use/occupancy.

Sport and recreation planning consultants Global Leisure Group wrote the report after surveying Te Hiku sport and recreation clubs, schools, and health organisations to identify challenges facing the sport and recreation sector.

Survey respondents say the greatest unmet need is an indoor swimming pool in the Kaitaia urban area. This is despite the existence of an indoor pool, Te Puna Wai, at Te Rangi Äniwaniwa 8 kilometres from Kaitaia, which survey respondents said is difficult to access due to its distance from Kaitaia and lack of availability during school hours, both for other schools and individuals. According to the report, the aquatic facility has major shortcomings in its heating and filtration plant and poor ventilation that would require significant investment to remedy.

The Kaitaia Sport Infrastructure Plan supports the construction of a new pool complex proposed for Te Hiku Sports Hub, but recommends further discussion on pool types and sizes before the detailed design process begins. The design should aim to retainkey learn-to-swim, hydrotherapy, recreation, exercise and competition training pools that are appropriate for the local population.

The report suggests that Sport Northland play a ‘connector’ role to co-ordinate Kaitaia College, Te Rangi Äniwaniwa, Kaitaia Intermediate School and Te Hiku Sports Hub to facilitate the effective use of school and community facilities, particularly covered courts at Kaitaia College and outdoor artificial surfaces at the intermediate.

It also recommends that the governance and management of the proposed Te Hiku Sports Hub be reviewed to better spread responsibilities and attract people with the appropriate skill sets to develop and operationalise the community sports hub concept.

Finally, it says a detailed assessment of sports field capacity and demand be completed before any further investment is made into sports field drainage and flood lighting in the Kaitaia area.

Report author, Global Leisure Group, is a specialist sport and recreation planning consultancy and has completed similar studies, such as a recreation plan for Te Hiku Community Board.

The report will be used to complete funding applications to external bodies to meet the needs of Kaitaia and the wider Te Hiku Ward. 

Image courtesy of Sport Northland.

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