Seven courts at Gisborne’s Victoria Domain development now ready mid-July

The light poles went up last week at the new Gisborne Netball Centre courts and a handover of seven of the 12 courts is now expected mid-July. Photo / Murray Robertson

Contractors will hand over the first seven completed netball courts at Victoria Domain in mid-July after a delay to phase one of the multi-sport hub project.

It had been hoped to have the new courts ready for play by the end of June and previous to that, sometime in May.

“A little bit of bad weather and some extra earthworks that was needed has slowed the project down a little,” Daniel King from Architects 44 said.

“We now expect to have the first seven courts ready by the middle of next month.”

King said the asphalt playing surface would be laid down in the next week or two, and then the court-marking would take place.

A dozen 16-metre-high light poles went up last week around the netball courts.

Work continues on a further five playing courts that are set to be established in the domain.

Gisborne Netball Centre manager Allisa Hall said it has been hard working from a distant site and waiting for the courts.

“But we cannot wait to get there. It’s going to be very exciting to get back to the Domain,” Hall said.

“Meantime, the Girls’ High courts have been an amazing facility for us to use in the interim.“

The Gisborne Netball Centre continues to operate at the high school courts for its senior, secondary and intermediate competitions.