Year-round sports fields under way
Two extra sports fields are being built at the home of Cambridge Football Club to allow for yearround play.
The fields will be at John Kerkhof Park on Vogel St and are intended to resolve ‘‘wet weather issues’’, which sometimes make the pitches unusable during the winter sport season, the Waipā District Council said.
Construction will start this week, cost about $900,000 and should be finished early next year, the council said.
The contract was awarded to TIC Contracting Ltd, which specialises in this type of work, Waipā District Council community services manager Brad Ward said.
‘‘This work will be beneficial to the community by creating two additional playing platforms which can be used all year round.’’
Works will include installation of new drainage and irrigation, earthworks and re-levelling of the existing ground area.
A swale drain that runs through the middle of the grounds – and leaves the pitch a non-regulation size – will be filled in.
‘‘Previously these fields have been unusable during the wet winter season, so the work means there will more sports fields available in Cambridge.
‘‘By filling in the swale drain, the football club will be able to bring the pitches up to regulation standard.’’
The fields will be closed to the public while under construction and Cambridge Football Club is working to minimise disruption to playing schedules.