​Shortage of sports fields kicks off review

Cambridge’s winter sport players are bearing the brunt of a shortage of sports parks across the district.

A Waipā-wide review in 2020 identified a shortage of sport parks largely in Cambridge, with rugby and football hardest hit. Council says Cambridge rugby players need access to sports parks an extra 17 hours per week to meet existing demand; footballers need an 13 extra hours a week.

This shortage of available hours is projected to increase to a combined 56 hours per week by 2038 unless something changes.

Community services manager Brad Ward said Council knew the sports park shortage was not acceptable for a growing district that prided itself on a great lifestyle. Council is about to kick off a review of sport field leases to help maximise development and use of playing and training space across the district, he said.

“We need to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of how sport parks across the district are being managed. We recognise there’s an issue and we’re doing something about it.”

“The good news is there is sufficient capacity for the summer codes like athletics, cricket, softball, touch, football, rugby sevens and tag. But we need to sort out longer-term issues for other codes, particularly given Waipā’s projected growth.”

Council owns and administers 17 sports parks with 13 leased entirely to 14 clubs. Each sports park is largely managed individually rather than as part of a wider network. Council’s role was mainly limited to mowing and broadleaf spraying, a model Council says is “uncommon”.

The review will begin shortly with Council working closely with lessees and other users to see what does and doesn’t work for them. Many clubs had already initiated discussions with council about undertaking their own, significant field improvements, Ward said.

“There’s a real desire to provide the very best facilities we can. We all want the same thing, so it’s a case of working together to come up with the best solutions.”

Council has already budgeted $2.7 million over 10 years to increase available playing hours by providing more and better quality surfaces. Earlier this month, it was announced construction will begin on two new sports fields at John Kerkhof Park, home of the Cambridge Football Club. That work will mitigate wet weather issues which plague the fields in winter, making the pitches unusable.

The review will be undertaken over the next nine months and will be reported back to Council and Community Boards next year.