My Account
Rodney Netball is preparing for the winter season with only half its courts in a usable condition and uncertainty over how Covid protocols will affect participation.
Only four of the centre’s six courts were available last season and this is likely to shrink to three this year. The problems stem from long-term neglect, both in terms of drainage and maintenance.
Improvements have been promised on paper, but nothing has so far materialised. An Auckland Council needs assessment of Wellsford’s Centennial Park was done in December 2020. It looked at future community sport and recreation needs, ahead of the start of the development of a new master plan for the 16-hectare sports park and courts – netball and tennis. The plan, which will guide future decision-making on investment for the park by providing general design direction, including the location of facilities and improvements, was due to start in March last year.
Council says a draft master plan, funded by the Rodney Local Board, will be presented to the Board around mid-year for release for consultation.
The master plan will guide future decision making on investment for the park by providing direction on what facilities and improvements are required and where they should be located.
The first step will be to identify what the future priority uses for the park are, building on the research that has been undertaken by Council and the Wellsford Sport Collective.
Meanwhile, Rodney Netball is optimistic it will be able to run full junior and senior competitions this winter.
President Kelly Ayres says normally, the centre would have an indication of numbers by now, but everything was still “a bit up in the air”.
Forty-nine junior teams and 26 senior teams played in the comp last year. The juniors completed their season, but the seniors lost one day at the end of the competition because of the lockdown.
Kelly says the centre is facing two challenges – a lack of volunteers and Covid.
“Operating in the Covid environment means more sanitising of equipment between games and spacing people out,” she says. “We are struggling to find people to help and the existing volunteers just can’t do everything.
“We also want to do the best by everyone in terms of being inclusive. We have sent out a survey to gauge how people feel about being a My Vaccine Pass competition. If we open up to everyone, regardless of their vaccine status, there are rules to follow such as limiting numbers.
“I know some sports have given up, but we feel our netball competition is just too important for our juniors and seniors, and their families, to do this. At a time like this, people need an recreational outlet more than ever.”
If anyone is willing to help with either the juniors or seniors, email: netballrodneycenter@xtra.co.nz or phone Kelly on 021 072 4015
