One day, a piece of unloved hockey turf; the next, a take-off strip for hang-gliders.
That's the fate of one piece of the Central Otago Sports Turf surface at Cromwell.
The sand-based turf is being replaced by new water-based turf in a $1.8 million upgrade of the hockey facilities.
Work began this week on installing irrigation for the new turf, which was the same as the turf being laid in Rio de Janiero for next year's Olympic Games, sports turf trust chairman Michael Paardekooper said.
'' ... we're delighted to have been able to upgrade to an Olympic standard turf right here in Central Otago.''
As for the old turf, there had been a ''huge'' response to the call for expressions of interest in the remnant.
''It's good to see it being re-used,'' Mr Paardekooper said.
Some would be used for a 400sq m warm-up area included in the upgraded complex. The remainder had all been allocated, he said.
''It's going to be used for all sorts of things, from school cricket pitches to hang-glider take-off strips, to being used under boats and trailers and for a whole heap of other things.''
The new turf cost just under $700,000 and the $1.8 million project includes a new amenities building.
There was a shortfall of about $150,000, so construction of the building would be delayed until more funding was available but Mr Paardekooper hoped that part of the project could start after Christmas.
The turf was expected to be laid by the end of January.
One of the fundraising ventures was for people to sponsor a square metre of the new turf.
