Six sprung courts for Network Waitaki Events Centre

Published on 29 May 2024

Following the signing of the construction contract for the much anticipated Network Waitaki Events Centre, Waitaki District Council considered an alteration to the proposed plans at Tuesday’s full Council meeting.

The original proposal was to have four wooden sprung courts and two synthetic courts, the latter allowing for sports such as tennis and other non-sporting events. Since the original agreement on the requirements, thinking and evidence of usage by sports in other centres has changed.

Today after much debate, Council agreed to change the specification to six sprung court floors for the facility. It also welcomed an offer from the Events Centre Trust to support fundraising for an all-weather tennis facility.

Mayor Gary Kircher said: “The types of court surfaces has been an ongoing discussion as we have tried to get the best result to suit everyone – sports and events included. However, the Project Board has come to the conclusion that six sprung courts will deliver the best overall outcomes, but they also support improved facilities for tennis with their own all-weather facility, providing the best outcome for all codes.

Following a robust discussion and debate, we agreed with that recommendation and also acknowledged the fundraising trust’s offer to help raise the money required for the tennis facility.”

The Network Waitaki Event Centre Project Board said: “We thank the Council for approval of our recommended changes to the type of

courts in the planned event centre. The decision to make all six courts wooden sprung will support the greatest number of sports codes and emerging sports like pickleball being enjoyed for both young and old”

“We appreciate Councils endorsement for the Project Board and Event Centre Trust to identify and support the tennis codes that would have benefited from the originally planned two synthetic courts.This decision enables us to move full-steam-ahead on the construction of the event centre to benefit the community”

The Waitaki Event Centre Trust said: “We are supportive of the Council’s resolution today, to change the flooring to six wooden sprung floors for the Network Waitaki Event Centre.

This decision acknowledges the growth of existing and new sports, such as Futsal, Pickleball, Volleyball and Floorball that have the potential to grow exponentially in our community.”

ENDS