College backs sports complex

A hockey turf developed at Matamata College is proving true the old adage, build it and they will come.

The college developed a half turf about seven years ago and last year built another half, with flood lights so it could increase use.

Principal Alan Munro said during the hockey season the facility is used from morning right through to game time, 5pm to 9pm, most week nights.

‘‘Each night we would have school teams, club teams using it, and about two teams from out of the town as well. And then after their games they’ll go into town and spend money, which is good for the local community.’’

Munro is hoping the same benefit could be generated from use of an indoor sports complex, as proposed by Matamata Futures.

He said the college was ‘‘100 per cent’’ behind the proposal.

‘‘There was an opportunity about four years ago where we tried to get a [similar] project up and running between the council, school and local community but it fell over.

‘‘So a facility of this calibre is much needed and would be well used by our kids.’’

Munro said there is no other facility in town which can host international standard basketball or volleyball, two sports popular at the college and in the community.

He said the college gym’s ceiling was not high enough and the walls at Headon Stadium, Pohlen Park, were too close together.

‘‘Our gym is ok, but it’s just a normal school gym and we can’t run a basketball league there.

‘‘Even though the volleyball facilities we’ve got are good, the fact is they’re not good enough for the standard of players we have.’’

Munro said the interest in volleyball had been driven by a staff member who was particularly keen on the sport. The programme normally produced a national player from the college every second year.

The college had showed interest for the proposed indoor sport complex to be based on school grounds but Munro said that wasn’t likely now.

The four proposed sites included Bedford Park, Pohlen Park, Swap Park and Matamata Domain.

Munro said an indoor sports complex would be an ‘‘amazing opportunity’’ for Matamata. His staff had been involved in contributing their ideas and thoughts on the plan to a feedback document produced by consultants, the Giblin Group, earlier this year.