New goals for hockey

Rainwater tanks are an environmentally friendly option for hockey turfs.

The number of Primary aged hockey players at Hibiscus Hockey in Millwater increased this year to 39 teams (from 23 teams last year).

This positive development required four new hockey goals, as the young teams play on half fields – and goals don’t come cheap. Hibiscus Hockey Trust chair Merv Huxford says regulation size hockey goals cost at least $2800 each.

Local firm Coast Engineering had never made hockey goals before, but were able to produce the fabricated steel framework for four goals for $3500, and thanks to some voluntary labour from the Greenwood family, Hibiscus Hockey netted and back-boarded the goals for $4500 – a saving of $6700.

In addition, the Trust’s four existing 30,000-litre rainwater tanks are no longer sufficient to prevent the need for reticulated water supply to irrigate the artificial turf.

Three more tanks are needed and, together with earthworks and plumbing, cost $22,540. The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board stumped up $8000 and funding applications are in for the balance required.

Merv says that all the water on the turf is harvested rainwater.

“The original design and plan projected that four tanks would be sufficient. But less consistent rain, and higher ground leakage than projected, has led to the need for the three extra tanks which will give a 210,000 litre storage capacity.”

He says the Trust has deliberately refrained from irrigating the turf until it can ensure an adequate storage supply, and will then use cannons to spray it.