Game, set but not quite match to Papakura Tennis and Squash Club.
The club has secured $345,000 from Auckland Council’s Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund, about 80 per cent of what it needs for an ambitious redevelopment.
Manurewa-Papakura Councillor Daniel Newman is delighted with the outcome.
“Just as we are funding significant upgrades at Manurewa Tennis, Jellicoe Tennis and Manurewa Squash, I want to see tennis and squash thrive in Papakura, especially when the club boasts 250-odd members from as far afield as Wiri, Wattle Downs and Conifer Grove.
“The funding announcement gets the club 80 per cent of the way, so I’m determined to see it secure what it needs to complete the upgrade.
“The grant is testament to the hard work of club members, and also to the Papakura Local Board, which funded a needs assessment for the club as part of its efforts to secure this regional funding.”
Also the Wiri Licensing Trust deputy chair, Newman is working with the club and other funding sources to secure the shortfall, and is confident having the bulk of the budget in place will make that achievable.
The club plans to resurface its existing five tennis courts into four astro-turf courts with the remaining space given over to pickleball - one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
The lighting will all be replaced to a standard allowing for night play, expanding the club’s playing hours; and its four squash courts, all in desperate need of ceiling repairs, will be brought up to standard.
The club says having a space for pickleball – where players use a paddle bat to hit a hollow plastic ball over a net, as in ‘padder-tennis’ of days gone by – is expected to attract more members.
Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says the decision shows the money the board invested in the needs assessment the club based its application on, was worthwhile.
“The club has been going for a long time, has always invested in coaching juniors, and has been active in local schools, promoting the game and helping children get involved.
“It’s also a club that draws from a very wide area. Squash players and tennis fans come from many parts of south Auckland to play at a club that’s famed for its family-friendly environment.”
Sports organisations across the city wanting to develop their facilities shared in $13.6 million of funding from the fund.
Auckland Council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee chair Richard Hills says the funding will help more people participate in sport and recreation activities.
“Aucklanders of all ages and backgrounds love to stay active. A major aim of this fund is to invest in the changing ways people choose to participate, and to partner with other funders to address the needs of our growing communities.”
Stay connected
Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month.
