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Play got underway last month at Hibiscus Coast Netball courts in Edith Hopper Park, Manly, with four intermediate teams playing in a four-week preseason league.
The main competitions start in the first week of Term 2, for primary school-aged netballers.
As the evenings close in, it is becoming more problematic that the courts still have only two light poles – Auckland Council removed the other two last August during lockdown when they became unstable during a storm (HM September 1, 2021).
The Hibiscus Netball Centre is now a satellite of North Harbour Netball. Its chief executive, Lynette Brady has been discussing how to replace the lights with Council ever since they were removed.
She recently had a quote for replacement of the two light poles, lights and fittings of around $80,000.
She says the centre was advised by Council to submit a funding application to Council, potentially for up to $50,000.
“If approved, the funds would be available in June, so probably too late for the 2022 season,” Brady says. “In any case we need to find an additional $30,000.”
She says primary netball will go ahead and will hopefully be workable with the two light poles that remain, provided the games are scheduled so they finish before it gets too dark.
However, any college/adult social competitions played in the evening, are not possible this season.
