Sports surface to cost Chch $1/4M?

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 6

Sports surface to cost Chch $1/4M?

The Christchurch City Council may be willing to contribute $250,000 towards the $1 million cost of an allweather sports surface at Porritt Park, the city’s hockey centre. A council investment in the project would depend on the Government's providing $500,000 of the cost, and hockey supporters. $250,000. The’ New Zealand Hockey Association wants to hold the 1990 World Hockey Cup in New Zealand as part of the country’s 150th anniversary year, and has asked four local body areas — Auckland. Christchurch. Wellington. and Palmerston North — what help they would be able to give.

The International Hockey Federation recently adopted a requirement that all big international tournaments must be played on an artificial surface.

The City Council’s parks and recreation committee said yesterday that the council should study the feasibility of contributing $250,000 to an artificial surface project.

Cr Rex Lester said he hoped that city residents would see the true value of such a project, which would help to attract visitors to the city as well as providing short-term employment. The project “should be pursued with enthusiasm,’’ said Cr Lester. The committee’s chairman.

Cr Noala Massey, said she believed that $250,000 was an "amount it was reasonable for the City Council to invest."

An additional cost of $140,000 for tower lighting would be faced for Porritt Park if the artificial playing surface was installed. Any council contribution to the playing surface “would be more than compensated by the city having another world-class facility." said Cr Massey’s report.

The artificial surface would be available for use by other sports.

Councillors said that the city should help prepare submissions on the project for Government consideration.