Local boards join together for new roof
A sports centre that boasts more than 400,000 visitors a year has convinced Auckland’s Northern local boards to work together to help fund a roof replacement.
Netball North Harbour, based in Northcote, needed a $696,000 upgrade to its building, originally built in the 1970s.
The facility was used by about 420,000 netball players, coaches and spectators each year and was the only place on the Shore where senior netball was played, chief executive Lynette Brady said.
But the upgrade would not just benefit netballers: up to 52 different organisations used the facility each year.
When Fairfax Media visited, more than 100 traditional Japanese Kyudo archers from across the country were sitting their New Zealand grading in front of experts from Japan.
Brady said the centre was used for everything from volleyball and tennis, futsal, church groups, floral art to corporate functions. The centre’s wide use - and the fact it attracted netball players from all over north Auckland convinced all four local boards to chip in for funding.
Kaipatiki Local Board, where the facility was located, would fund the most at $175,000, while Devonport-Takapuna would fund $60,118, Hibiscus and Bays $50,000 and Upper Harbour $40,079.
Brady said the support from the local boards was ‘‘really appreciated’’. It allowed Netball North Harbour to approach funding agencies, which usually
‘‘It's about providing shelter and also protection from the sun.’’
Lynette Brady
wanted to pay for only half of a project, she said. A levy on teams, which was introduced for the arena built in 2011, was continued to contribute some funding to the project, Brady said.
But the organisation wanted to keep sport accessible and inexpensive, so did not want to increase costs too much, she said.
The roof needed repair due to wear and tear, and the fact it was built in a couple of stages, Brady said.
The work upgrade involved a replacement roof going over the existing roof and extending over the balcony, stairs and court-side area, giving some shelter to players and spectators when it rains.
The roof replacement would be built off-site and then moved on, allowing as minimal disruption to the popular facility as possible.
Brady hoped the upgrade would be done in the 2017/18 summer.