Last Wednesday July 27, Ashburton District Council adopted a new Play, Active Recreation and Sport Strategy. The strategy is formed around the vision of everybody included, having fun being active and includes an action plan to achieve this.

The action plan includes a range of initiatives such as multi-use sport field development at EA Networks Centre and sand-based sport facilities for beach volleyball and handball.

Other ideas that came from the community through consultation included piloting women’s only swim and gym sessions at the EA Networks Centre and a focus on playground accessibility.

Sport participation for rangatahi (youth) was a focus and a new fee structure for the EA Networks Centre was also in the plan .

“Our community told us that 2022 poses a range of barriers that prevent participation in play, active recreation and sport, so we addressed those aspects when drafting the strategy,” Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said.

Main issues facing the sector included Covid-19, making sure we include ageing and diverse populations, digital transformation and the cost to participate.

“Key goals in the strategy are based around accessibility, participation, a strong collaborative sector, and awareness”, said Mr Fabish.

The first generation Physical Activity Strategy was developed in 2006, followed by a second generation Sport and Recreation Strategy adopted by Council in 2010.

The 2010 strategy focused primarily on facility development and helped drive the construction of the EA Networks Centre, which opened in 2015.