Bowling green’s change of role
Beach volleyball may soon be part of lunchtime activities in the central business district in Invercargill.
Volleyball Southland is turning the old Southland Bowling Club green into beach volleyball courts, and the venue is due to host a South Island championship in November.
Volleyball Southland chairperson Donna Mine was confident player numbers would swell with the introduction of beach volleyball.
‘‘We’ve got over 2000 players in Southland . . . in five years we could have 5000.’’
Volleyball Southland and the Southland Darts Association have formed a partnership to lease the old bowling club’s grounds and building, in Forth St, off the Invercargill City Council.
Association president Steve Padget said the quality of the facilities, and being able to share costs with Volleyball Southland, were incentives to move from its current headquarters in the old Appleby Tavern.
Volleyball Southland and the association will retain their individual identities but will set up an incorporated society, the Otepuni Community Hub.
Work on changing the old bowling green into a sand area, measuring 36 metres x 36 metres, will start soon. The turf will be skimmed off and metal sleeves inserted, followed by the concrete, filter gravel and cloth and 30 centimetres of sand.
The area will accommodate six volleyball courts which can become two for national and international games.
Milne said the first games should be played in late October before the South Island Junior Indoor and Beach Volleyball Championships are held in Invercargill a month later.
The building has room for 14 dartplaying areas on the ground floor, with space for another six upstairs.