Work on new $1.8m hockey turf starts today

Bill Shepherd. Photo / File

Construction on Hockey Northland's new $1.8 million third turf at Kensington Park will begin today, with the plan being to have it finished by the end of January.

The turf received a mid-winter present from the Whangarei District Council of $1 million.

It will provide the equivalent of 11 grass grounds and take the pressure off organisers who struggle to offer turf time, with busy practice and game schedules restricting the game's ability to increase player numbers.

Hockey Northland board member, and acting chair of the facilities committee, Barbara Wilkinson said the tender process had been completed, with the successful applicants in place to start the process.

"All going well, the timing will be perfect, as the whole project will be completed over our quieter months of the year," Wilkinson said.

"The addition of this turf will give us the means to hold bigger tournaments in Whangarei, like the Masters tournament which could bring a significant amount of money to our local economy.

"This new turf has a lot of advantages and it is really exciting for Hockey Northland."

After convincing the council to invest at the end of 2011, Hockey Northland chairman Bill Shepherd told the Northern Advocate earlier this year that Hockey Northland was delighted to have a confirmed site, council backing, an ASB grant, and $200,000 from Hockey Northland reserves to fund the new turf.

"The $1 million Whangarei District Council funding, budgeted in its annual plan 2013/14, enables us to begin the tender process, with construction of the base work due to begin in late September," Shepherd said.

While some may criticise the council for helping fund the project, Hockey Northland has proved its ability to attract international teams and national tournaments to the region.

This year alone, Northland has hosted an international Four Nations and the national under-21 tournaments.