Astro turf courts boost for Wakatipu Hockey

 ‘makeover’ of the Frankton tennis courts has been a welcomed resource for the Queenstown Hockey Club, Queenstown Lakes District Council community services general manager Paul Wilson said.

“The court was in such a state of disrepair it had to be closed in November last year,” Mr Wilson said.
The Queenstown Hockey Club made a huge commitment and fundraised $10,000 towards the project. The Council had budgeted $60,000 for the resurfacing, received a further $15,000 from the Community Trust of Southland and approved a further $14,000 in February to meet the shortfall to undertake the work.

“The Hockey Club desperately needed a hockey pitch and had been forced to travel to Cromwell for practise on the nearest all-weather surface,’ Mr Wilson said.
The Club had been making full use of the new astro turf in the last few weeks of the season, club president Jude Chandler said.

“With lighting now installed we look forward to all teams being able to practise locally in 2011,” Mrs Chandler said.

The facility boasted a full sized circle line marked specifically for hockey which enabled goal scoring drills to be practiced.

“Our youngest members will also look forward to hosting their first mini's tournament in Queenstown with teams travelling from all areas of Central Otago,” she said.

The club hoped the new pitch would encourage new members in the Wakatipu Basin.

“This has been a real community partnership to improve the resource, not only for the hockey club but also tennis fans,’ Mr Wilson said.

Lakes Leisure would install tennis nets once the hockey season came to an end.

“The courts are free for casual use but there will be a fee associated with bookings from October 1 in line with the new pricing policy,” Mr Wilson said.