All-weather Wairarapa athletics track under investigation

An all-weather athletics track, estimated to cost in the region of $1m, is being investigated for the Wairarapa.
The proposal was raised by Team Wairarapa Athletes Inc, an organisation established to assist and develop the region's talented track and field athletes, and is currently being considered by a working group set up in association with them.
That working group consists of Team Wairarapa representative Mark Harris, fellow Team Wairarapa member Mark Quinn, who is also part of Athletics Carterton, Sport Wairarapa development officer Doug Bracewell, athlete, cyclist and event promoter Sue Lyttle, accountant and rugby referee Tom Roseingrave and Active Wairarapa planning facilitator Kate Wright.
Current Mayor of Masterton Bob Francis will also join the group later this year once he stands down from the mayoralty.
Harris believes an all-weather track would be a "fantastic asset" for the Wairarapa community as it would be available to athletes, sports clubs, schools and other groups interested in exercise and physical activity
"It would provide a safe surface all year round and would enable people, including those with disabilities or undergoing rehabilitation, to train irrespective of the weather or ground conditions," Harris said.
"It would also mean that major sporting events could be hosted here and that would bring economic spinoffs for local businesses."
The actual location of the track has yet to be decided but the plan is for it to have a grass surface in the middle, on which various sports could play or train
Factors being taken into consideration as to its siting include population, finance and existing ground facilities and disability access.
And, of course, the whole scheme will be dependant on raising the level of funding required for such a facility, estimated at about $1m.
Harris said a track similar to the one envisaged for Wairarapa was established in Timaru three years ago and had proved very popular within the local community there.
In addition to club usage it was utilised by over 12,000 school children a year, many of them coming from as far north as Ashburton and as far south as Oamaru.