The Piha R&R has been working for several year to get up-grade work undertaken at the Domain sports field. With the construction of the new Toilet and Ablution building it was recognised that excess soil would become available and we urged Auckland council to utilise that soil to level and upgrade the playing field.
Piha Kids Trust and several others joined the cause and their voice to Council and the work was done. Unfortunately, the contractor did not effectively remove construction debris from the soil before it was spread and the resulting debacle stirred up the community with indignation and disbelief at the outcome.
We should all thank Matt Alsweiler from Sport and Parks West who worked with Council to resolve the situation and reports as follows:
“I was out at Piha Domain on Tuesday to inspect the field. I have attached some photos of how the things are looking and I was very happy with the grow-in to date.
Our contractors repaired and re secured the sections of the temporary fencing that had been damaged in the weekends storms. We also gave the field its first full cut. There is a high percentage of kikuyu coming back through which is very promising and with the large amount of rain fall we have been experiencing I am happy we will not require any irrigation on the field until the new year. Items still to be addressed are relocating and installing the rugby post, this will align with the opening of the field and if required more seeding will take place early autumn to repair any loss of grass caused by drought or usage.
Because the grass has not yet reached full maturity(usually 8 to 10weeks after sowing), I would prefer to leave the field closed for another month, during this period we would lower the height of cut to promote lateral growth therefore thickening up the turf making it suitable for the proposed football training and touch teams to use. Opening the field up to early could potentially undo the work to date.
I will be returning from annual leave on the 19th January and will be more than happy to schedule a meeting to review and plan the next stage.”