Mike Wilkinson, left, Luther Toloa, Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson, Bill Carter, Annetta Ryan, Jonathan Hooker, Lucy Griffiths and Teresa McClymont outside the administration part of the new Colombo Rd facility. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
JAKE BELESKI
Netball season is fast approaching, and with it comes the added excitement for Wairarapa players of the new state-of-the-art facilities at the Colombo Rd courts.
The $2.7m Bring it to Colombo project is progressing as scheduled, with completion on target for the end of April.
The completed product will include six artificial and six asphalt courts with three under cover; a new club room with disability access; an accessible toilet and shower facilities; player shelters for the uncovered courts; a large viewing deck; and medical room with outside ambulance access.
Bring it to Colombo Trust chairman Luther Toloa and project manager David Borman gave a select group a sneak preview of the new facility yesterday.
There is still plenty to be done between now and the end of April, but the overall design is coming together and it is clear the finished facility will be something for Wairarapa to be proud of.
Mr Toloa said it was satisfying for those involved that the project had reached this point, but he was even more elated for those in the community who would use the facilities.
“I think the community ought to be excited — it’s their facility.
“All we’re doing is just facilitating it for the community.”
He praised the work of the Bring it to Colombo Trust, but said there was no time to stop and take a breather.
“It’s been hard work, and we’ll continue to work hard,” he said.
“The suppliers and funders have been brilliant, and the individual contractors have chipped in in terms of their own costs.
“$2.7m is massive, and that we’ve come this far speaks volumes of the generosity of our community.”
There was still about $160,000 that would need to be raised to cover the complete cost of the project, but he was confident they would get across the line.
The last major fundraiser is scheduled for May, and although the exact details are yet to be revealed, some famous faces will be involved.
Sir Michael Jones, Sir Peter Leitch and Jenny-May Clarkson, among others, will be attending.
