| 87 COMMUNITY Wairarapa College Fresh start for Wairarapa College T Richard Loader Embracing just under 5000sqm, the new area will include five netball/tennis courts and one basketball court at one end, with two practice hoops at the margin. Transformed from tired, uneven and slippery netball and tennis courts to a striking multi-purpose sports facility, Wairarapa College is looking forward to the start of Term One 2022 and the opening of its new physical education space clad in state of the art all weather synthetic turf. Funded from the Government’s post Covid School Investment Package, the multipurpose sport and physical education space replaces old netball and tennis courts that had not been fully utilised for a number of years due to health and safety concerns. Recently appointed Principal Matt White says the design of the new facility has included drainage features that will allow training sessions to take place when the grassed fields cannot be used. Embracing just under 5000sqm, the new area will include five netball/tennis courts and one basketball court at one end, with two practice hoops at the margin. Overlaying the netball/tennis courts are the lines for a full size futsal turf and two hockey Ds. A three-lane 100metre running track complements the courts on one side, while markings for the ever-popular game of foursquare bookmark the track. “We have a very passionate sporting community and sport is a very large part of Wairarapa College’s culture,” says Matt. “We have a Sports Academy that students apply for that delivers a specialist teaching and learning programme focused on sport, sports nutrition, wellbeing and mental skills. We have had very good success in national tournaments, especially hockey.” As well as being used by the school the new multi-purpose sports courts will be a bookable space that can be enjoyed by the wider community. With planned pre-season netball and basketball tournaments next year Matt is hopeful the new courts will enable Wairarapa College to host the tournaments and fully utilise the spaces. “Rather than having to travel to facilities outside of the school, we will also be able to offer more sports at this school, making those sports more affordable and accessible to a wider cross section of our students. “Ultimately the more students we have involved with sports the better it is for our school and school pride, as well as the health and wellbeing from physical activity and the social benefits that come from being part of a team and working with others.” As well as providing another valuable teaching space for health and physical education the new turf courts will be utilised by other learning areas such as science doing speed testing and mathematics’ measurement activities. T to page 88 • Carpet • Vinyl • Vinyl Planking • Laminate Planking • Timber Planking • Commercial & Residential 06 378 2824 •81 Dixon Street, Masterton • www.flooringdesign.co.nz Service & Excellence You Can Trust 21 VILLA STREET MASTERTON Office phone: 06 370 3200 Email: verlaff@xtra.co.nz • P.O Box 202 Proud to support Wairarapa College Fallprotect is proud to support Wairarapa College DEDICATED • DEPENDABLE • INNOVATIVE info@fallprotect.co.nz www.fallprotect.co.nz www.willbertcivilnz.com 027 945 5237 | info@willbertcivilltd.com WBC are specialists in civil construction with experience gained on large and complex projects across Australia and New Zealand. Based in the Wairarapa, our team is mobile across the lower North Island. Large-scale & Government projects • Residential & detailed excavation • Earthworks & site clearing • Utility trenching
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