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everyone reads the wanaka sun
Thur 12.04.12 - wed 18.04.12
inside:
Wizard in Wanaka page 2
The art of flight Aircraft enthusiasts flocked to town for the Easter weekend Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow. The Yak 3 is pictured over the Clutha River mouth in its first ever display. This Russian fighter, a rebuilt classic from World War II, just completed certification prior to the event.
BMX kids page 3
PHOTO: wanaka.tv
Hockey club turf tussle Tim Brewster
Flying high pages 4&5
Art in the tavern page 12
sunviews page 13
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www.thewanakasun.co.nz
quarter of the existing pitch is now up for sale. The remainder of the pitch has been kept by the Ministry of Education as part of a land package used by the community-owned Aspiring Beginnings childcare centre next to the sports turf. Sue said she had first heard the land had definitely been sold to Ngai Tahu, but it now appears they had only been offered the first opportunity to buy, which they had rejected. She has not been informed of any other plans for development. She said the club simply can’t afford to purchase new land, lay a new asphalt playing area with their turf on top, move the lights and install fencing. The area is also used for a number of other sports as it is one of the few freely accessed multiuse turfed areas with lights for night games and practise. Jarrod Frazer, one of the agents marketing the property, said the school buildings on 1.61
The Upper Clutha Hockey Club may be looking for a new home after this season, with its current turfed practise area in Warren Street facing an uncertain future. “We’re in limbo, we don’t know when we may have to move so we’re living season by season,” former president and a current club coach Sue Telford (pictured) said. Part of the practise area, which is a half size competition pitch, is on the former grounds of the Wanaka Primary School which has been listed for sale. The area is part of a complicated ownership arrangement, she said, with the lights, which were installed just last year, owned by the QLDC, the synthetic turf and shed owned by the club and the asphalt and fence owned by the Ministry of Education. To further complicate matters, it is understood most of the school land, including an estimated PHOTO: tim brewster
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hectares of land and a second block made up of a 900 metre section on Youghal Street which has a prefab building on it are for sale, but not the old tennis courts or the hockey club turf. It’s believed the area which contains the hockey turf is still being considered by Ngai Tahu who have a month to decide whether to take up the option. The Ministry of Education was unable to provide any information to confirm any details about the boundary arrangements before the Wanaka Sun went to print. Sue can’t understand why the boundary cuts off a quarter of the pitch, but is hoping any future plans will be years away. If they can no longer use it then club members will have to start driving to Cromwell several times a week to train during winter. “I hope it’s a drawn out procedure.”