Improved facilities at Waiuku Sports Park are now complete – the result of a partnership between council and the community to boost availability of sport and recreation facilities.
Book a facility
Franklin Local Board marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting during the Waiuku Blast to the Past event held on the ground at the weekend, with chair Angela Fulljames saying the upgraded facility is an important community asset.
“We really want to see the whole community using it and getting enjoyment out of it so we would encourage people to book it, which they can do through the council’s booking system.”
The project has involved developing and upgrading a carpark, access between the facilities, sand carpeting and irrigation and drainage of the field as well as new lighting and changing facilities.
Encouraging better use of sports and recreation facilities
The Franklin Local Board, Waiuku Districts Rugby Club and Waiuku College/Ministry of Education partnered up in 2016 to encourage better use of sports and recreation facilities in the area.
Board member Brendan Crompton has worked closely alongside the project partners as the local board’s representative on the project group and says it’s great to see the project finally realised.
“We’ve been talking about it for more than a decade so I'm delighted we’ve now seen it become a reality.”
Mr Crompton acknowledged the rugby club and school for their willingness to open up the facilities to the community.
“This model of working with a school and existing sports club is something new for the council and we’ve shown that it is a working model that could be used as a blueprint for other projects."
The council invested $2.4m in the project.
“It’s a win-win not just for the school and club with upgraded facilities, but for the Waiuku community as a whole."
Mr Crompton says that it's more cost-effective to invest in upgrading existing community facilities in partnership rather than building new ones.
The project aligns with the guiding principles of the Franklin Sport and Active Recreation Facilities Plan, which the board adopted in 2016, including sustainability, partnerships, multi-use and boosting use of existing facilities.
Booking information is available on the council’s website or phone us on on 09 301 0101.
