Queenstown could lose underutilised, substandard tennis courts at Frankton and get a multisport, all-weather Astroturf pitch in their place.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee will be asked to divert $14,000 from the Queenstown Entrance Landscape project to advance the Astroturf project when it meets in Queenstown this morning.
The Queenstown Hockey Club approached the council last May to discuss options regarding a practice hockey pitch because the hockey sector was hampered by the lack of all-weather surfaces in the region, meaning players had to travel to Cromwell for practices.
QLDC project manager Russell Engelke said in his report to the committee the long-term vision of the club was to fundraise for a full-size pitch, to be located near the Queenstown Events Centre.
In the short to medium term, the council discussed surfacing tennis courts on the Frankton Domain with Astroturf and doubling the size of the courts to allow for corner practice.
The tennis courts were "in a state of disrepair" and use was restricted by the large cracks in the asphalt, Mr Engelke said.
The poor state of the courts had resulted in one recently being closed and the net removed, after a user fell and tore ligaments in her leg after twisting her ankle in one of the cracks.
The courts were also underutilised in winter and the application of Astroturf would allow for use by other sporting codes.
In May last year, Mr Engelke had costed the project at about $200,000, of which the club would contribute $140,000.
The hockey club had agreed to carry out minor work on the tennis fence, install a surround board and cover the additional cost over the council's $60,000 budget.
In August, that cost was revised up to $99,000.
Despite a $10,000 contribution from the hockey club that now left a shortfall of $29,000 to be obtained via external fundraising.
Mr Engelke had recommended the project be approved subject to funding being secured.
To advance the project, $29,000 was required from grant applications.
The Community Trust of Southland approved a grant of $15,000, leaving a funding shortfall of $14,000.
The Queenstown Hockey Club had been approached for more funding but was unable to add to its contribution of $10,000.
Mr Engelke suggested the shortfall could be found from savings on landscaping.
A nearby project involving landscaping of the State Highway 6/6A from McBride St to Yewlett Cres resulted in a saving of $25,000 on the approved budget, allowing the possibility of putting a portion of these savings towards the Astroturf project.
