NEWS RELEASE

10 December 2013

New playing surface for Alex Moore Park

Work has started on a new synthetic grass surface on Alex Moore Park in Johnsonville.

Councillor Paul Eagle, Chair of the Council’s Community, Sport and Recreation Committee, says Wellington City Council is spending around $2.3 million on the Alex Moore Park upgrade, which also includes car parking, paths and landscaping. The Charles Plimmer Bequest has contributed $380,000 towards the landscaping.

“The new surface is great news – those playing sport will now have a total of seven sportsfields in the city to play on that boast artificial turf,” he says.

The Council has been working with the Alex Moore Park Sports and Community Group on the development and a joint resource consent application was approved in September 2013.

“This has been a grassroots, community-led project that will provide the catalyst for a strong and resilient future for the many local sporting codes,” says Cr Eagle.

Deputy Mayor Justin Lester, a Johnsonville resident who regularly plays football at the park, says the installation of the artificial turfs is revolutionising sport in the Wellington region. “It means sportspeople – young and old – can get to play all year round, in all weathers.

“It is the first to be the rolled out in the northern suburbs and it’s important that we see equal access to the turfs across the city.”

At Alex Moore Park, contractor Sports Technology International has started work removing the top layer of turf to install drainage and compact the base ready for laying the synthetic grass. The excess soil will be used at Raroa Park to fill in low spots that have formed on this former landfill site.

The work also includes a car park on Broderick Road, training lights and new seating. A pathway around the other the fields will allow for recreation and easy access and will include planting, seating and stairs. 

The lower field at Alex Moore Park will be out of action for sport or training this summer while the work is done. This is expected to take around four months. The upper field and most of the middle field will not be affected initially, but as work progresses on paths and steps, there will be some impact on other smaller areas of the park. 

ENDS

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