Masterton launches sports facility study

BARE: The Colombo Rd outdoor courts, the current headquarters of Netball Wairarapa. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wairarapa residents are being given the opportunity to have their say about the future of netball and other indoor sports facilities in the region, as part of a major feasibility study.

After the completion of the Masterton sports facilities plan, Netball Wairarapa and Masterton District Council have joined with other stakeholders to investigate the feasibility of a netball and indoor sports facility to cater for Wairarapa's netball and indoor sports needs.

Opus International Consultants have been commissioned by Masterton District Council and Netball Wairarapa to undertake this study.

Community consultation will play an important role in understanding the suitability and accessibility of all council-owned, school-owned and privately-owned court facilities in the Wairarapa region. It will also help with establishing whether or not a new facility is feasible.

There are two ways in which people can give their views as part of the consultative process. Firstly, they can complete a copy of the questionnaire which is available at council offices throughout Wairarapa and online at www.mstn.govt.nz This will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Responses are required no later than April 20.

In addition, there is a programme of public drop-in sessions planned, which are designed to enable the community to meet representatives of Opus and discuss the current and future provision of facilities.

There are four sessions, taking place at the following times:

Tuesday, April 7, Masterton Town Hall, noon-2pm and 5.30-7.30pm and Wednesday April 8, Greytown Town Centre, noon-2pm and 5.30-7.30pm.

There is no need to book in advance to attend one of these sessions and everyone is welcome.

More information regarding the consultation can be obtained by emailing michele.frey@opus.co.nz

- A report prepared by Nelson-based Global Leisure Group for the Masterton District Council late last year said the Wairarapa Netball Centre required a regional indoor stadium which would be compliant for their sport, meaning a decent run-off area and spectator seating for between 800 and 1500.

A two- to three-court facility would provide the capacity needed for community sport and also provide a venue which would be able to host franchise games, inter-regional tourneys and possibly national tourneys.

It would be preferable if the facility was co-located with the main outdoor complex for netball, which is on Colombo Rd.

"This is a major opportunity to transform indoor sport provision from fragmented to an integrated hub. It would incorporate a new pavilion for netball and other codes."

Two of those other codes would be basketball and volleyball and also possibly indoor football.