118 | COMMUNITY Table Tennis Canterbury T T Richard Loader Upgraded stadium gets the big tick The significantly upgraded stadium on Blenheim Road, Christchurch has been future proofed for the next two decades. With a grand vision to be New Zealand’s best table tennis stadium, Table Tennis Canterbury’s upgraded and modernised facility has overshot that goal by quite a margin, according to feedback from the table tennis playing community. With project work completed January 2024, the significantly upgraded stadium on Blenheim Road, Christchurch has been future proofed for the next two decades, and may well be the best table tennis stadium in Australasia. In recognition of its stadium’s high standard, Table Tennis Canterbury, has been selected to host the table tennis component of the 2025 Special Olympics National Games. “We’re very fortunate to own our building, which is a dedicated table tennis facility whereas most facilities around the world are shared / multi-sport facilities,” says Simon Fenwick, who led the Table Tennis Canterbury building sub-committee and was also the designer and project manager. “Getting all these upgrades completed to the standard we have was really important for being able to host the table tennis at the Special Olympics next year, and a new para programme funded by Paralympics NZ.” Project engineer was Kevin Simcock, while Chadwick Builders was engaged to undertake the construction. Originally a Yates seed warehouse, when Table Tennis Canterbury took ownership of the building in 1999 considerable work was undertaken to change its use, with very little work undertaken since then. In 2011 the building suffered some earthquake damage including minor foundation damage and damage to the asbestos roof, and the earthquake insurance claim was finally resolved in 2022. While Simon’s skill sets are in construction, his partner, Kris Alisch, has a background in professional fundraising and the couple joined the committee to provide support to progress the project, as well as raising funds from sporting and charitable organisations above and beyond the earthquake insurance claim. “We came together very well as a committee with the right mix of people and volunteers with a common goal to provide expertise and advice in construction and fundraising to undertake a long overdue upgrade. In the end the earthquake insurance settlement, combined with fundraising, gave us a working budget of $1.5 million.” Project work included the removal and replacement of the earthquake damaged asbestos roof, with 160 solar panels added to the roof, providing 92kw of capacity and the ability generate the stadium’s energy requirements. The building was partially reclad at the front including new double-glazed windows for better security. A complete upgrade of the kitchen, bathrooms, shop and meeting rooms at the front of the building provide a welcome modernisation from what was essentially 1960’s modelling. The stadium’s interior was given a fresh coat of paint to complete the modernisation. Minor cracking in the concrete floor was repaired and an internationally approved table tennis sports flooring put down, while the overhead lighting system was upgraded from 300 lux to a smart controlled 1000 lux system, allowing for good streaming of content. New technology also includes a smart booking and access system that allows entry by key fob at any time from 7.00am to 11.30pm at night. “We also upgraded accessibility for disabled access,” says Simon. “Table tennis is popular across a wide cross section of the community and is a Paralympic sport. We have also upgraded the carpark to bring it up to compliance in respect to Council and accessibility standards, and improved security lighting around the building.” Simon calls table tennis a major minor sport — a small sport, that everybody knows, and has probably played at least once in their lives. “We have a thousand members in our club, with huge support from para sport, several different ethnic groups and a strong contingent of high school, intermediate and primary school kids who come here every week. We have a very large junior academy where kids play for two hours a day, and we also have a really strong seniors’ group from their sixties to eighties and we get fifty plus people come along on Tuesdays and Thursdays and play for three hours. There’s a strong social element to that group as well. Being quite a low impact sport, table tennis is a sport that you can play into your nineties and beyond — it is good for your social and physical wellbeing as well as ensuring you remain part of the community.” dcflooring.co.nz Timber | Carpet | Vinyl | Concrete Grinding Roofline Canterbury Ph 349 8439 · www.roofline.co.nz For all your roofing and cladding CANTERBURY LTD On Point Plumbing & Gas For all your plumbing and gas needs Proudly supporting Nest Residential 021 168 7006 tom@onpointfuture.co.nz
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