Netball opposed to joining sport hub

COST FEAR: Netball Wanganui does not want to move all their games from Laird Park to a sports hub based in and around Springvale Stadium.PHOTO/FILE

NETBALL Wanganui is opposed to suggestions of moving away from its Laird Park headquarters into a potential indoor and outdoor hub at Springvale Park because they were not properly consulted and say the costs will be too great.

Feedback requests closed this week on the discussion document by Wanganui District Council over the future of the town's various sporting facilities, and Netball Wanganui has submitted several concerns with the concept of shifting from their 13 outdoor courts at Laird Park towards using more indoor facilities at Springvale Stadium, along with proposed outdoor courts at the complex.

The new Netball Wanganui chief executive Parekura Muraahi, currently in Auckland at a major international tournament, said "thank goodness" after their robust submission opposing the idea, both Sport Whanganui staff and WDC deputy property manager Leighton Toy will meet with them directly on Monday.

"Probably more a concerning time," Muraahi said.

"We're most keen to ensure the growth of the sport is considered in future plans.

"[But] we couldn't possibly fit on six courts, not to mention all the parking."

Muraahi said the consultancy Global Leisure Group, which undertook the review of the town's facilities for WDC, did not consider how Netball Wanganui ran the game locally for around 2500 players, coaches and support personnel.

While WDC owns the Laird Park land, Netball Wanganui is financially responsible for all the assets such as the pavilion, light fixtures and the court surfaces, which council says need resurfacing due to continued ground water problems causing moss growth.

The discussion documents states it is easier to consolidate all netball at Springvale Stadium, where the Premier 1 games are played indoors on Monday nights, along with neighbouring Jubilee Stadium, while perhaps building the six to nine courts outside as part of a wider sports hub.

In the Netball Wanganui submission, signed by president Amanda Engert, it states they were only asked for feedback two days prior to Easter Weekend.

Currently, it costs more than $7000 to hire Springvale for the Premier 1 competition, Future Ferns programmes and holiday events.

"Netball Wanganui is struggling to see how an increase in indoor facilities will become more affordable for our netball community, particularly those belonging to the identified 28 per cent of low income-households," the submission states.

"Winter netball on a Saturday is a 15-week competition.

"An increase to six indoor courts, which we will have no choice but to use due to the reduced outdoor court facility, will see an enormous increase in costs."

They feel after maintaining Laird Park to "a good standard", they will now be penalised by the move which will leave the current courts and their asset base to be abandoned and become derelict.

"[Ground water] has always been an issue and we have always managed it.

"Sub surface drainage was laid to assist with the run off of water coming off of St John's Hill and a high porous surface was used in our last court resealing to ensure adequate run off."

Netball Wanganui said the same problems could still happen on the proposed outdoor courts at Springvale.

They are also resistant to the loss of autonomy which would come from joining other sports in sharing one area.

"We are not opposed to working together to leverage resources, but do not believe we need to be sardined together into a hub for this to occur."