Work is underway on a second synthetic hockey field at Murwillumbah following a sod-turning ceremony last week.
The project, being built by Brim’s, will duplicate the synthetic field already on the site at Barrie Smith Hockey Fields in Murwillumbah.
However, while the existing turf, which is the regional headquarters for the sport in the Tweed, is water based, the new one will be a synthetic hybrid, taking less money and water to operate.
Tweed mayor Councillor Barry Longland and Member for Lismore Thomas George joined with Tweed Border Hockey Association president Richard Philip to officially mark the start of the project last week.
Richard is confident the new turf will be in and useable by the end of February, just in time for the next season.
The project is jointly funded by Tweed Shire Council, the Tweed Border Hockey Association and a Community Building Partnership Grant from the NSW Government.
The new hybrid pitch will replace the existing turf field, adjacent to Nullum Street and opposite Murwillumbah High School, which had been used as a cricket ground. The synthetic cricket wicket will now be moved to the top oval at the high school, according to Richard Philip.
The new hockey field is in addition to the existing synthetic pitch at the complex which has been in operation for 14 years.
Councillor Longland said the additional synthetic turf hockey pitch would bring a range of benefits to the association and the local community.
“This improved complex will satisfy requirements to host national and state tournaments, as well as providing improved playing and training facilities for local players,” Councillor Longland said.
“This is certainly potential here to attract international teams for training, particularly given the Gold Coast’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
“I’m pleased to hear that this is a new hybrid style pitch that does not require wetting down like traditional synthetic pitches, and therefore is more water sustainable, with less infrastructure and drainage requirements. However, it does have the flexibility to be played wet.
“I congratulate the Tweed Border Hockey Association for their enthusiasm and determination in seeing this project through and I’m sure it’s just the start of big things for this complex and for the sport of hockey on the Tweed,” he said.
Richard said his association has been working towards the second field for four years.
“It’s wonderful to see it come to fruition, mainly through the efforts of Tweed Shire Council and our local member Thomas George, and we are grateful for their help and advice,” he said.
He said Council appreciated organisations who helped them-selves, and he believed this was at the heart of the successful partnership between Tweed Hockey and Council.
“We’ve just hosted a successful Under 13 Boys’ national tournament and we’re already out there promoting this new facility across Australia,” he said.
“If we hold major tournaments, we gain more revenue through our canteen and we give back to the local community too, through motel bookings and local restaurants.”
Richard said the new field was the first step in a range of improvements his association would like to see at the complex.
“Over time, we’d like to see full lighting on the new field, new change rooms, club house and grandstand,” he said.
Member for Lismore Thomas George commended the association on their commitment to the project.
“I congratulate the association on their professionalism, which showed in their application,” Mr George said.
Construction of the new synthetic hockey field is scheduled to start in the next few weeks and will be completed in time for the 2012 hockey season.
There will be an increase in traffic in streets surrounding the hockey fields for a period of approximately six weeks, with trucks delivering fill and other construction material. Council apologises for any inconvenience to residents.
