Tara Carter met with district council staff and started getting quotes to refurbish the Ngātea netball courts.
Three years and two children later, things have finally come to pass.
The Hauraki Plains Netball Centre has been dealing with a flood-prone playing surface, in which a moderate amount of rain can render half of the courts unusable.
They were constructed in 2008 by landowners Hauraki District Council, and Tara said their age, plus the subsidence that occurs underneath the surface, stopped rainwater from draining and caused the courts to flood.
But as the netball centre’s fundraising and facilities officer, as well as its health and safety officer, she made it her mission to make the courts at the Hugh Hayward Domain playable, all year round.
“It’s been quite a ride,” she said. “We had a significant funding shortfall.”
After Tara applied for three grants and had all approved, receiving $30,000 from Trust Waikato, $32,000 from Grassroots Trust, and $209,000 from Lottery Community Facilities – plus the centre’s own funds of around $100,000 – she had successfully accumulated $370,000 for the project.
However, after bringing in surveyors and engineers to kickstart the resealing, they told her it would cost a lot more than originally thought.
So, in February last year, Tara presented in front of Hauraki district councillors, who then appointed Garth Doherty as project manager.
“At this point I had three funders who had been waiting close to 12 months from when they had approved our funds, and they were wanting accountability reports for us having achieved what we said we would,” Tara said.
“Thankfully, they were all very understanding and agreed to extend until October as we worked with renewed hope.”
Tara said the first option presented to the centre was to resurface the six courts in a turf-type product which would have come in around $130k over budget, with council covering the difference. But turf was not a suitable surface to play senior netball on, she said.
“It was then determined it was a possibility to re-level and asphalt the back four courts which are our problem courts, without needing to dig up the front two courts,” Tara said.
This option came within budget.
After a lot of “toing and froing”, last minute pleading with funders, and a delay to works in the New Year, Tara said she had faced a number of curve balls but was now seeing the end in sight.
“So many times it’s felt like we’ve got a solution only for it to cave or fall at the final hurdle, so I’ve said I’ll only be celebrating when they’re finished, with all the lines painted and goal posts reinstated,” she said.
Council’s group manager service delivery Adrian de Laborde said he was pleased that a resolution had been achieved, with the remedial works underway.
“This process has involved a considerable amount of technical engineering input in order to be compliant with the New Zealand Netball Association court design guideline,” he said. “The design will now allow for the courts to be used safely year-round.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Toby Adams said Tara and her team should be commended for their ongoing efforts.
“The professionalism brought to this project by Tara and her team has achieved a positive outcome for all stakeholders involved,” he said. “This has allowed the association to implement their contract for the construction of the courts and aided in council’s ability to provide technical assistance. Council has been impressed by the resourcefulness, drive and dedication shown by the association to make this project happen. It’ll lead to a great outcome for netball in the Ngātea region.”
There will also be tennis and pickleball lines added to the courts, with completion set for late February-early March.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
