‘‘We need help and we need it soon.'' That was the plea from Otago Hockey Association chief executive Chris Aubin to the Dunedin City Council yesterday.
The association had negotiated financial assistance from the council to help replace its ageing sand-based artificial turf at Logan Park and had expected to have replaced the turf by now.
But Mr Aubin said that since the Logan Park redevelopment plan was first mooted in 2004, progress had been delayed because of controversy over the proposed demolition of the former Logan Park art gallery building, and issues surrounding the building of a multipurpose stadium at Awatea St, near Logan Park.
Four years on, the sand-based turf needed replacing urgently, Mr Aubin said.
‘‘We can't wait any longer. The artificial sand turf is completely worn out and becoming dangerous. We have nursed 18 years out of it when it should only have lasted 12.''
He urged the council to contribute to the new turf, irrespective of what happened about the rest of the Logan Park redevelopment plan.
The association wanted to replace the turf with a waterbased turf at a cost of $800,000, he said.
While primarily to be used by hockey players, it would also be used for football games, touch and other sports.
The association had largely financed other facilities for hockey players, including the sand-based turf, a water-based turf and a pavilion.
The council would not be expected to fund the total cost of the new turf, he said. Rather, the association was seeking annual funding which would enable it to remain financially self-sufficient.
It would also fundraise and apply for grants from other sources to meet the cost.
If a water-based turf was not built urgently, the impact would be ‘‘disastrous'' for hockey, Mr Aubin said.
Tournaments would be lost because sand-based turfs were no long acceptable for major competitions, and the numbers participating in hockey would not grow.
Mr Aubin estimated the association's efforts to provide artificial hockey turfs had saved the council $7.1 million over the past 18 years.
That was because the turf took the place of 15 grass fields, which would each have cost the council $12,000 to $13,000 per annum to provide.
