New $3.3m squash facility proposed for Christchurch
Squash officials hope a new ‘‘world class’’ $3.3 million eightcourt facility in Cashmere will bring more national and international events to Christchurch.
Christchurch Squash Club and Cashmere Club have signed an agreement to build the complex which should be completed next year.
The Cashmere Club is leasing the Colombo St land to the squash club which hopes to open its doors in mid-to-late 2018.
Both clubs held special general meetings last week to gain members’ support for the project to proceed.
Club spokesmen said the aim of the deal was to boost membership and revenue for the both clubs, as well as find a new home for the squash cub.
Christchurch Squash president Mike Beresford said the club was delighted to be getting a world class facility.
‘‘The club has been looking to rebuild its Chester St East site since the February 2011 earthquakes. Our current site was first developed in the 1950s and over the years had expanded to a five-court complex.
‘‘While it would be great to rebuild on our current site, supporting research by Squash Canterbury clearly indicates that the Cashmere region represents a great demographic from which to grow the sport through both community and the school sport network.’’
Beresford said the new complex would ‘‘provide a strong case to attract major national and international events.
There was also capacity at the Cashmere Club for a glassenclosed court, which would enhance spectator viewing.
‘‘In the long term a new facility will clearly strengthen the local Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island and New Zealand squash community,’’ Beresford said. It could draw players of the calibre of Canterbury’s New Zealand champion Paul Coll, ranked 12th in the world.
Beresford said Tauranga’s Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre provided a good example of the sort of success a modern squash and sports facility could achieve.
‘‘They’ve gone from 150 members to blocking off their membership at just over 700.’’
Cashmere Club board chairman Peter Winchester said the joint venture was the way of the future.
‘‘There seems to be an acceptance by members that the traditional role of a Chartered Club is changing and that the future is all about youth, community, sports sections, functions and community-based activities.’’
Winchester said the relocation of the Sydenham Rugby Club and its members to the Cashmere Club had been a success and the amalgamation of the squash community would build on that.
Final cost of construction is yet to be determined but Beresford said the Christchurch Squash Club had 90 per cent of the funds required from insurance, sale of existing site and funding from New Zealand Community Trust.
Other funding initiatives were underway to cover the shortfall. Beresford said the Christchurch Squash Club was determined to debt free.
The club, which opened in 1958, has more than 200 members. The Cashmere Club runs one of Christchurch’s largest chartered club facilities and been operating on its Colombo St site for 40 years.