City squash centre’s million-dollar revamp
Project among $94m of building consents issued in December
The best membership numbers in two years and the potential to host the “world’s biggest” men’s squash tournament are behind a milliondollar expansion to Tauranga’s Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre.
The Tauranga City Council’s latest building consent report showed $1 million was approved for two new squash courts and change rooms.
The project was among 165 building consents worth nearly $94m issued in December.
Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre operations manager Karl Brown said the expansion was in preparation for the world men’s squash tournament in December, depending on Covid-19 developments.
“It will be the largest squash competition this country has ever seen.”
The tournament was expected to attract hundreds of people with as many as 25 countries typically competing.
“It will be the best men’s players in the world.”
Brown said the $1.4m project included installing a glass exhibition court, bigger changing rooms and the latest product in “interactive squash”. “It’s a new variation of the game. It’s building the future of movement on a squash court.” He said it was the biggest expansion project the club had been involved in. “The building is nine years old. It’s the premier squash club in the country but this is going to take it to an extra level.” Growing membership numbers meant the expansion was going ahead even if Covid-19 prevented the competition from happening, Brown said. “We’re the largest squash club in the country with over 600 full members and over 250 casual members. That doesn’t include schools, groups and businesshouse,” he said. “We’ve done well post Covid. We were very nervous but our membership figures are sitting at the best they’ve been in two years. We’ve