THAMES WARD SPORT AND RECREATION FACILITIES REVIEW AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Prepared for Thames Coromandel District Council December 2013 © SGL Funding Ltd 2013 – Thames Ward Sport and Recreation Facilities Review and Future Directions 1 CONTENTS: 1 Review of Thames Ward Community Sport and Recreation .................................................... 6 1.1 Study Objectives and Key Areas of Work .................................................................................. 6 1.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.1 Base Information .................................................................................................................... 7 2 About Thames Town ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Introduction and Location ............................................................................................................ 8 2.1.1 Council Direction ................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Population ............................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Key Strategic Directions and Community Initiatives .............................................................. 12 2.2.1 Thames Urban Development Strategy ............................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Hauraki Rail Trail ................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Schools ............................................................................................................................................ 13 2.3.1 Thames-Coromandel District Schools .............................................................................. 13 2.3.2 Hauraki District Schools ....................................................................................................... 14 3 Thames Sport Facility History ...................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Skate Park ....................................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Indoor Court Facilities................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Replacement Grandstand at Rhodes Park ............................................................................. 16 3.4 Swimming Pool Facilities .............................................................................................................. 17 3.5 Impact of Mercury Bay Mutli-Sport Park Development ........................................................ 17 4 Sports Clubs .................................................................................................................................. 18 4.1 Club Profile ..................................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.1 Membership .......................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.2 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 19 Kiaido Ryu Martial Arts New Zealand (KRMA) ......................................................................... 19 TCA Your Gym ............................................................................................................................... 20 Thames Athletics ........................................................................................................................... 21 Thames Badminton ....................................................................................................................... 22 Thames Basketball ........................................................................................................................ 23 Thames Cricket Club .................................................................................................................... 24 Thames Football ............................................................................................................................ 25 Thames Gymnastics Club ............................................................................................................ 27 Thames Harrier Club Inc ............................................................................................................... 28 Thames Netball Centre ................................................................................................................ 29 Thames Rugby & Sports Club ..................................................................................................... 31 Thames Amateur Swimming Club ............................................................................................. 33 Thames Bowling Club Inc ............................................................................................................ 33 Thames Mountain Biking Club .................................................................................................... 33 Thames Valley Motor Cycle Club .............................................................................................. 33 Thames Squash Club Inc ............................................................................................................. 34 Thames Tennis Club Inc ............................................................................................................... 34 Thames Jockey Club .................................................................................................................... 34 5 Thames Sports Facilities .............................................................................................................. 35 5.1 Taipari Park ..................................................................................................................................... 35 5.2 Centennial Pool ............................................................................................................................. 36 5.3 Rhodes Park ................................................................................................................................... 41 5.4 Thames High School and Danby Field ...................................................................................... 45 © SGL Funding Ltd 2013 – Thames Ward Sport and Recreation Facilities Review and Future Directions 2 Thames High School ..................................................................................................................... 46 Danby Field .................................................................................................................................... 47 5.5 Porritt Park ....................................................................................................................................... 49 5.6 Thames War Memorial Civic Centre ......................................................................................... 51 5.7 Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp ......................................................................................... 53 5.8 Burke St Beach Front Reserve ..................................................................................................... 54 6 Leisure Directions ......................................................................................................................... 55 6.1 Leisure Trends ................................................................................................................................. 55 6.2 Key Guiding Principles .................................................................................................................. 55 6.3 Why An Overall Leisure Plan and Why Master Plan? ............................................................. 56 7 Sports Facility Directions ............................................................................................................. 57 7.1 Less Leisure Venues of Better Quality, which are Multi-Functional ...................................... 57 7.2 Current and Future Venue Directions By Sport ....................................................................... 58 7.3 Proposed Facility Development ................................................................................................. 59 8 Facility Development .................................................................................................................. 60 8.1 Skate Park ....................................................................................................................................... 60 8.1.1 Need and Challenges ........................................................................................................ 60 8.1.2 Site Factors and Design ...................................................................................................... 60 8.1.3 Porritt Park Preferred Site .................................................................................................... 60 8.1.4 Youth Workshop Feedback ............................................................................................... 61 8.1.5 Current