13 Jul 2017

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A post-quake collaboration between local clubs will see a $4 million sports hub developed in Parklands.

The Pukeko Centre Sport and Recreation Community Hub, on the site of the Parklands Bowling Club, will provide indoor and outdoor recreation facilities for a number of local groups. 

It will become a venue for meetings and events and will also be used by nearby Parkview Primary School. It’s expected that thousands of people will come through its doors each year.

The centre is a joint venture led by the Parklands Bowling Club and the Parklands Junior Rugby Club. The bowling club suffered extensive damage in the 2011 earthquakes and the rugby club was left without a home, so three years ago they decided to work together to create something new for their community.

Their ambitious plan involves moving two buildings from the former Freeville School – the Modern Learning Studio and the School Hall – to the Bowling Club site in Chadbury Street. The buildings had been earmarked for demolition but have been given to the clubs by the Education Ministry.

The first building, the Modern Learning Studio which will become clubrooms and meeting rooms, was relocated in May, and will open before the end of the year.

The hall is expected to open next year as a venue for indoor sports, performances and events. The remainder of the project will be completed in stages.

The Pukeko Centre will offer bowling greens, a playground and all-weather courts for netball, petanque and tennis.

Pukeko Centre Joint Project Committee Spokesman Wayne Eden said the development has been designed to meet the needs of the growing Parklands community, and to fill gaps rather than competing with existing facilities.

“This is a centre that will enhance and complement what is already out here in the community and make it a vibrant, active and connected place to be.

“We are already known as being friendly, inclusive clubs and that’s part of the culture that we want to maintain in the new buildings, so that people feel welcome and valued."

The committee is working closely with the local Coastal-Burwood Community Board and representatives from other community facilities. 

Coastal-Burwood Community Board Chair Kim Money said it was very exciting to see progress being made with the Pukeko Centre development. "It's fantastic to see such an innovative and creative community initiative take off, and we will continue to offer the committee our advice and support along the way."

The Bowling Club’s insurance payout, along with $600,000 already raised through grants from the Rata Foundation, New Zealand Community Trust and Southern Trust, means that Stage 1 of the project is fully funded.

The project has been given a boost by receiving a $400,000 grant from the Lotteries Commission a few weeks ago but further sponsorship is needed to fully realise stages two to four. The centre has a Givealittle page for community support.