Hockey turf going down

08 November 2002 By SIMON MAKKER After a year's delay, the construction of Taupo's hockey turf is making progress. The water-based astro-turf field is being built in the eastern corner of the AC Reserve. Project managers Barry Grattan and Kevin Rigby say the plan is on schedule to open in March 2003. The turf was delayed a year because of resource consent issues. Great Lake Hockey Turf Charitable Trust chairman David Steele says they had overlooked the fine print regarding noise and sports issues on a section of land designated for recreation and leisure. "Despite it all, the process went very smoothly," he says. "We're still on budget, which is great." Taupo District Council gave Taupo hockey $800,000 of the $1 million needed to build the turf. Mr Grattan says hockey in Taupo has already progressed in leaps and bounds over the past year in anticipation of a hockey turf. "At the moment junior hockey is very strong and the sport will continue to grow once the turf opens," he says. BOP Ashphalt Ltd from Tauranga is completing the initial stages of the project. The same company helped build the Tauranga turf.