Netball pushes to stay

HOME SWEET HOME: Netball Wanganui is keen to stay and upgrade its home at Laird Park rather than move to a proposed sport hub at Springvale Park.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

IN RESPONSE to a direct question from the Whanganui District Council, Netball Wanganui will settle for nothing less than it already has.

Netball Wanganui met representatives from Sport Whanganui and council on Monday night to further discuss suggestions of moving away from its Laird Park headquarters into a potential indoor and outdoor hub at Springvale Park. The proposal was part of a wider discussion document by Wanganui District Council over the future of the town's various sporting facilities.

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.

In its submissions Netball Wanganui pointed out that it brought more than was actually on the table in regard to the sport.

"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 stated .

New Netball Wanganui chief executive Parekura Muraahi and several executive and life members met Sport Whanganui and council representatives on Monday night describing it as an "excellent opportunity to discuss issues further" following last week's initial meeting.

"Several of the (netball) executive and life members met with Sport Whanganui representatives Adam Gosney and Jimmy Hildreth at Laird Park along with Leighton Toy from council," Muraahi said.

"Adam expressed their appreciation for the detailed submission from Netball Wanganui noting that it shed good light and insights into the operation and needs of the sport. "The meeting itself was an excellent opportunity to discuss issues further with (netball) president Amanda Engert acknowledging that nothing is off the table for consideration provided the needs of our sport and the wider community are taken into account.

"When asked directly what Netball Wanganui would require if a re-location to Springvale was to be considered, the response was 'nothing less than what we already have'," Muraahi said.

For Netball Wanganui this includes 13 outdoor courts, lighting, fencing, seating, car parking, a pavilion that includes a control tower, umpires room, canteen, storage and most of all guaranteed autonomy of operation.

"Netball Wanganui plans to relocate its administrative base to Laird Park (currently operating out of the Sport Whanganui building in Maria Place) and re-surface the courts within the next two years," Muraahi said.

"Both of these projects are significant financial investments that require an assurance to our community that Laird Park is and will continue to be the home of netball in Whanganui," Muraahi said.