A $70,000 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust will help Bowls Matua convert a second grass green to a synthetic surface and to re-surface an existing one.

A third green also currently in grass will be furloughed and made available to the community for sports like futsal soccer, petanque, croquet or volleyball.

The changes mean the club will save thousands in greens maintenance as the new hard-wearing surface requires less looking after. It can also be used year-round.

This will put the club in a better position financially and it will be able to waive fees for community groups wishing to hold meetings and functions there, says club president Cliff Osborne.

The synthetic surfaces will also be good for players as it will enable the club to operate through winter when most bowls clubs are closed for grass maintenance.

'The project means we can release our greenkeeper and just mow the third green with an ordinary motor mower if we need to,” says Cliff.

'There's also the option of converting the third green to sand depending on the needs of community groups that will be using it. It'll become a versatile area, but the club will be able to get it back in future if it needs it."

As well as the $70,000 grant, the club itself is putting $170,000 toward the cost of the $410,000 project.

"The remaining $170,000 has been met by funders including TECT, Infinity Foundation, Pub Charities and the Lion Foundation," says Cliff.

While the synthetic material is due to arrive in December, the club will have to wait until border restrictions ease before the Australian-based installation crew can enter New Zealand to complete the work.

The anticipated completion date for the project is early next year.