It reached the last notch on its belt about four years ago but the regional body has kept expanding.
Since 2012, its winter competition has grown from 1703 registered players to 2366 players - that's an increase of almost 39%.
That would have been swell if the facilities were not at bursting point, but they are, and have been for many years, Otago Hockey Association general manager Rachel Minton-Smith said.
It has managed its growth by getting creative with the draws and shuffling around matches. But the pressure on the two turfs at the McMillan Hockey Centre has reached breaking point.
‘‘If people want to play hockey, I don't want to turn them away and we shouldn't be turning anyone away,'' Minton-Smith said.
‘‘We've just had an adults' have-a-good day on Sunday and we had quite a lot of people turn up to that - about 15-20, which was pretty good.
‘‘But as it stands now, because of our limited turf time, the only thing they can really join is our club competition. I'd love to be able to offer something that is specifically for [casual players] but I can't because I have nowhere to put them.''
A good portion of OHA's growth has been driven by the junior ranks and their access to the turf is limited as well.
During the winter, the turf is in use from 3.30pm until 10pm from Monday to Friday and in the weekend from 8am to 9pm.
‘‘There are guidelines ... which say between 650 and 800 members per turf is your optimum.
‘‘We are full and I just find it frustrating because I know there is so much more we can be doing for our members.''
Given the obvious pressure, OHA has long campaigned for a third turf.
The initial plans for the redevelopment of Logan Park included a third turf but that fell by the wayside as funding priorities changed.
The cost and ongoing maintenance expenses are a significant barrier.
‘‘For a third turf you are probably looking at approximately $1.8 million. That's for everything.''
Raising that amount is a colossal challenge but Hockey New Zealand has identified Dunedin as an area of need and has engaged an outside contractor to help piece together a plan.
Minton-Smith then plans to make a submission on Dunedin City Council's annual plan.
‘‘We won't be asking council to fund the entire sum but it would be great if they could [contribute]. Then it is a case of going to the larger funding organisations to see what is out there.‘‘I guess just the standard route and then we'll have to look at ourselves as an organisation and what it is that we can afford.
‘‘Obviously $1.8 million is too much for us alone.''
Minton-Smith believes a big selling point would be to position the turf as a multipurpose facility.
‘‘There is no reason why it can't be multipurpose. There are sports out there like rugby league and football who struggle to find places to practise when their fields are too wet. It would be great to be able to say to them, ‘Hey, we've got times on a Tuesday night, come and use the turf'.
‘‘In Dunedin everyone has to work together ... it is the only way to make things happen.''
Minton-Smith feels the facility should be located away from the McMillan Centre to help lift the pressure on parking and infrastructure in the area.
While building a third turf is expensive, there is an opportunity cost to the city if nothing is done as well.
Hockey New Zealand is insisting on a minimum of three turfs for some of its tournaments and they can be lucrative events.
OHA is staging the under-21 nationals this year and that tournament is expected to attract up to 300 people from outside the region.
