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A few headaches have caused delays in putting down artificial turf for hockey at Metro Park East in Millwater.
Hibiscus Hockey Trust chair Merv Huxford says that it’s the first time in the world that this material has been used for hockey and so teething problems are expected.
The innovative Tiger Turf Ecocept utilises a porous shock pad made of recycled rubber and plastic within a waterproof membrane.
It allows the field to be irrigated from underneath, giving better wetness control, better game control and eliminating the waste of windblown aerial water spraying.
Merv says that tests showed too much water was being lost, but they were unable to locate the leak points. As a result, the waterproof base is being completely redone with ashphalt – Merv says this is an environmental “trade off” to conserve lots of water.
The facility will have 1.5 hockey turfs, with one for hockey and the half turf available for the fast-paced Hockey Fives as well as other sports. The project will cost $3.3m, $1.6m of which has come from Auckland Council and the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.
Merv says all going well, the full size turf should open for games in July. The official opening of the Millwater facility is expected to take place once the adjoining half turf multi-sports facility is completed.
