Lansdowne’s Jim Fraser Centre to be replaced

The earthquake-damaged Jim Fraser Centre at Lansdowne Park will be demolished soon as part of the Marlborough District Council’s major redevelopment of the sports grounds.

Lansdowne Park’s existing infrastructure is being upgraded; as well as a new central sports pavilion building there will be a new stormwater system, playing fields and netball courts.

Marlborough District Council Reserves and Amenities Officer Robert Hutchinson says the Jim Fraser Centre was in need of structural work even before the Kaikoura earthquake and was further damaged by the magnitude 7.8 event.

“It had to come down at some stage, and the re-development of Lansdowne Park, along with the quake damage, has meant this will happen sooner rather than later.”

Mr Hutchinson says four new beach volleyball courts will be built on the site currently occupied by the Jim Fraser Centre. Marlborough Rugby, along with other Marlborough sports codes, will be accommodated in the new sports hub pavilion being built on the south eastern corner of the park, closer to the Lansdowne Street main entrance.

“Lansdowne Park is to become the home base for more sports and, inevitably, that means some of the older facilities have to go. However, what we will end up with is a facility that can be used by a large number of people in our sporting community for many years to come.”

Marlborough Rugby sub-union chairman Peter Heagney says the Jim Fraser Centre holds a special place in Marlborough rugby history. It was named in honour of Jim Fraser, the manager of the Marlborough team when it won the Ranfurly Shield in 1973, who later became NZRFU president.

The Centre was built by the former Opawa Rugby Club to serve as its clubrooms and Mr Heagney was one of the club volunteers who helped with the build. The clubrooms were later taken over by the Marlborough Rugby Union which added a new administration/office block.

Mr Heagney wants the new pavilion to include space for the display of Marlborough rugby photos and memorabilia to help preserve the region’s strong rugby identity.

The Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from Marlborough sports codes who wish to be included in the new sports hub, to ascertain their requirements.

ENDS.

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