Squash Courts on schedule

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 November 1992, Page 4

Squash Courts on schedule

Building work on the new Ohakune Squash Club courts is on schedule. Ohakune Engineering Limited have installed the steel girders for the roof and builders Eves and Richards, who placed a successful joint bid for the building section, are scheduled to put the roof on this week and start lining the walls. With the exception of the specialist pre-cast playing walls which were constructed in Hastings by Unicast Concrete Limited all the tenders have been let to local contractors, said club representative John Laurenson. The committee who are acting as main con-

tractor were extremely pleased with the support given by the local tenderers. A valuation prepared for the Lotteries Grants Board by professional quantity surveyors Brian Eddy and Associates valued the voluntary input by the Squash Club and consequently the community at large at $174,603. This together with money already spent and cash raised puts the total funds available at $286,000. A further $144,000 is still required by the club to make the $430,000 figure needed. All these are GST exclusive figures. The club currently has an application with the New Zealand Lotteries

Grants Board. The Lottery Community Facilities Distribution Committee is due to meet next week and will consider the application for $130,000 which would see the courts complete with relatively little extra funds needed. With the original application deadline on 1 August it has been a long four month wait with a great deal of further documentation needed. Whilst confident that the project is indeed a worthy one and knowing that their application meets all necessary criteria the Squash Club is fully aware that payment is by no means guaranteed. President John Laurenson said that with

the large amount of written support from groups within the community and with the substantial communityraised funds he would be disappointed if they did not award at least half the requested amount. He said the committee has deliberately avoided

going to the public until able to guarantee that they can provide courts and within a definite time frame. The committee has now made a commitment to have playing courts available as soon into the new year as possible with an expected official opening tournament in

early February. He said many people have indicated a desire to join and indeed some already have. With the roof and external walls due to be completed next week the committee will be holding a 'roof shout' Saturday 21 November at 3pm in the courts. A bar-

becue snack will be provided. All those who have been involved in any way to date, all prospective members and indeed anyone with an interest will be welcome, said John. Karney Herewini won $100 with ticket 34 in a recent fundraising raffle.