Nor'West News: August 27, 2020

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday August 27 2020 3
News
Cricket nets to meet safety concerns
• By Bea Gooding
MEMBERS OF the Old Boys
Collegians Cricket Club are
relieved their voices have been
heard following the approval
of replacement cricket nets at
Elmwood Park.
A number of
amendments
were made to
the controversial
proposal
after safety
concerns were
raised by
residents near
David
Wakefield
the area, along
with fears the
space would
turn into a “cricket park.”
The 20-year ground lease –
four lanes covering 518 sq m –
was approved by the
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board as the existing
nets were earthquake-damaged
and deemed unsafe.
Said club committee member
David Wakefield: “It’s definitely
a bit of a relief, but at the same
time we’re glad that we feel like
there’s been a resolution struck
between residents who had concerns
with what was proposed.”
The club raised $100,000
towards the facility’s rebuild over
three years which will be available
for the public to use.
Changes to the proposal included
a compromise of soft nets
that can be retracted during the
off-season, halving in length, in
addition to a new pavilion that is
due to be built.
There was strong community
support for the new facility to go
ahead, with 361 out of 400 public
submissions in favour of the
amended proposal.
Key themes against the proposal
included the structure’s
scale having “detrimental” effects
on the parks’ amenity and
RELIEF: The
old cricket
nets at
Elmwood
Park will be
replaced.
They will
coincide
with a new
pavilion.
heritage value, and additional
park users outside the community
causing traffic and parking
issues.
“The existing nets already
take up too much of the park
as it is, and it’s difficult to avoid
the balls. I feel it will adversely
affect the enjoyment of the park
by many,” Lesley Airey said in a
submission opposing the plan.
Wakefield was satisfied the
safety concerns had been addressed.
“Definitely, our concerns
regarding safety were fundamentally
the reasons why we looked
to replace the current nets,” he
said.
“[They] won’t have to worry
about flying cricket balls.”
Community board chairman
David Cartwright said the lease
best meets the needs of the club
and cricketers of all ages, while
also acknowledging community
concerns over its scale.
“The club has shown it has
taken local residents’ concerns
about the size and scale of the
nets seriously. The proposal
they’ve come back with, for soft
nets that can be fully removed
during the off-season, helps address
these concerns,” he said.
Elmwood Park has had “a long
association with cricket,” he
added.
“The cricket club is an important
focal point for the local
community, with 92 per cent of
the club’s junior members living
within a 5km radius of Elmwood
Park.
“The new enclosed nets will
make the park environment
safer, and will provide a secure
training facility for players, without
hampering other park users.”
The nets will sit parallel to the
tennis courts on the eastern side
of the park away from neighbouring
homes.
The club was in the process
of securing building and
resource consents for them
and aim to complete the new
complex during coming cricket
season.
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