The board of Christchurch Netball Centre would like to update you on our proposal to build an indoor sports centre at Ngā Puna Wai.  

As with other sporting organisations, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our sport this season, the most noticeable of which was the disruption to our competitions. On reflection we were very lucky to play the number of games we did, even though it was disappointing to have to limit the number of spectators at the courts. I would like to thank you all for your cooperation and understanding and also acknowledge the amazing effort of our staff and volunteers during what has been a very difficult season.  

Covid-19 also meant changing the format of our Annual General Meeting. We dealt with the must-do business in an initial meeting, but held over a discussion on the proposed indoor centre until the lockdown was over. It was very clear at this meeting that there are still a number of questions from our netball community around the proposed centre.  

As far as the site at Ngā Puna Wai is concerned, Christchurch City Council agreed in June to lease reserve land to Netsal for the proposed centre. Netsal is the joint venture company that we have formed with Mainland Football to develop and operate the indoor facility for community sport.  

The Council has attached conditions to the lease to address concerns raised by some local organisations and residents during the consultation process about access, traffic management and parking. Basically, the site is sorted and ready for us to take the next steps.   

This is my first term as chair of Christchurch Netball and our board which includes two new members, Warren Poh and Jules Harris, has been thinking long and hard about what are those next steps with this project.   

As a board we see this as an exciting project and one which we are committed to progress for the betterment of our sport, in fact all sport, in Christchurch.   

However, we need to be confident that what we are proposing meets the needs of our netball community. We want to come and talk to you and listen to your views – not just about the proposed indoor centre, but about other aspects of how we will deliver netball going forward in our centre. We have reached the point that before we further progress the design of the centre, we need to talk to you.  

We are proposing to run three stakeholder workshops along the lines of “Share an Idea”, the engagement the Council ran after the earthquakes when residents gave their views on the city rebuild. Everyone is welcome to attend. The dates of the workshops are: 

Saturday 17 October 2-3.30pm at the Netball Centre – RSVP for catering purposes here via email

Monday 19 October 6-7.30pm at the Netball Centre – RSVP for catering purposes here via email  

Friday 30 October 9-10.30am at the Netball Centre - RSVP for catering purposes here via email 

This is such an important development for our sport, that we need to get it right and we need your input to do so. I look forward to meeting with you and hearing your views at one of our “Share an Idea” workshops.   

Ngā mihi nui, 
Anna Galvan 
Board Chair

Article added: Thursday 08 October 2020