Behind the scenes of the Thames Indoor Sports project

Some of our Council’s project team were on-site this week to check out how construction of the indoor sports facility, being built at Thames High School, was coming along.

The $4.8M facility is a joint project of our Council, Thames High School and the Thames Sport and Education Community Trust, and is for both community and High School use.

So far the foundations, floor, wall frames and roofing are complete, with the cladding and wrapping of the building now underway.

“We’re pushing to get the main envelope closed in, along with things like the ceiling grid and block work,” says Len Whittaker, Council’s project manager.

“We expect construction to be completed in June this year and will be working with the community on arranging an official occasion to celebrate it opening.”

“It’s extremely exciting to see the towering form of the new indoor court facility taking shape,” says Thames Community Board Chair Diane Connors.

“Recent discussions with Sport Waikato indicate there’s still huge demand for this asset and it will be used by a good number of community organisations and sports code. It will be a real bonus and help to strengthen various sports as the new two court facility will accommodate tournament and regional competitions to be held in Thames,” she says.

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

The project has had 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 our Council.

For more information on the Thames sports facilities project see: www.tcdc.govt.nz/thamessportsfacilities.

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