Two community sport and recreational facilities – the indoor sports facility at Thames High School and the skate and scooter park at Porritt Park – have reached key milestones.

Builders have been swarming over both sites, laying foundations and doing other essential work that will provide a sound platform for each facility.

At Thames High School the concrete strip foundations are mostly poured and masonry block walls are rising from the ground across the site. A new main stormwater line is currently being installed across the playing field to connect with existing infrastructure.

While on the other side of Rolleston Street, construction of the car park is well underway with retaining walls erected, kerb and channelling being formed and the base being prepared to be paved.

'When work resumes in January after the Christmas/New Year's break, the masonry work will continue, the gaps around the foundations will be backfilled and steel framework will begin to be assembled for the main structure,” says a Thames-Coromandel District Council spokesperson.

The new indoor sports facility is being built next door to the existing one at the high school, making it a two-court venue suitable for hosting senior-level tournaments for netball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and other sports.

The $4.8 million facility is a joint project of the council, Thames High School and the Thames Sport and Education Community Trust.

The project has received tremendous support from the community, with donations exceeding the initial fundraising targets.

Of the project budget, $850,000 is from grants, $380,000 is from pledged community fundraising and sponsorship, $440,000 from Thames High School, and the remainder from council.

THAMES SKATE AND SCOOTER PARK

There's also a hive of activity taking place at Porritt Park with work progressing on the new skate and scooter park. Photo: TCDC

Over at Porritt Park, the foundations and other features of the skate and scooter park are also rising from the ground.

'We worked with skaters on the design of this family-friendly facility that has the potential for a future pump track extension,” the spokesperson says.

'It features mini ramps and a quarter pipe and other challenges to suit a variety of users. We expect the skate park to be complete by the April school holidays.”

The skate park is being built where the replica Wakatere play boat once stood.

The boat proved too expensive to bring up to modern playground standards, and as it was about to be removed, asbestos was found in the sub-structure.

The replica Wakatere was removed in compliance with legislated requirements for work involving asbestos

To preserve the memory of both the replica boat and the original paddle steamer Wakatere, which plied the Hauraki Gulf between Auckland and Thames 100 years ago, the Lions Club of Thames have put up a sign at Porritt Park that explores the history of both the original Wakatere and the replica.

'The Thames Lions built the replica play boat in 1969. Now they have contributed once again to Porritt Park, to ensure residents and visitors know about this vessel that played a key part in the early development of Thames.”

For more information on both the new indoor sports facility and the skate and scooter park visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/thamessportsfacilities

The sign depicting the history of the original Wakatere paddle steamer and the replica Wakatere play boat which the Thames Lions Club built in 1969. From left: Thames Community Board chair Diane Connors with Thames Lions Club lion tamer John Trebilcock, membership manager Shane Dinneen and president Michael Kemp. Photo: TCDC