Media release

New rugby training facility at Beetham Park

Posted On: Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Hamilton City Council is to build a new rugby training ground at Beetham Park, near Waikato Stadium.

The facility will include a full-sized field, goalposts, lighting, changing sheds, and toilets.

Tenders are currently being invited for construction, with the intention of a contractor beginning work on 1 November, 2009.

The new Waikato Stadium Training Ground, costing $1,813,000, will be ready for use by April 2010. This project was budgeted for in the recent LTCCP.

The decision has been taken to develop Beetham Park following unsuccessful negotiations to re-locate Hamilton Old Boys Rugby Club from the Stadium precinct to Minogue Park.

“This has been a lengthy process, but this decision means that council meets its commitment to the Waikato Rugby Union to provide adequate training facilities,” says the chair of the Community and Environment Committee, Daphne Bell.

“Beetham Park will become the dedicated training ground for Waikato Stadium.”

The park sits next to a golf driving range - behind the corner of Richmond and Willoughby Streets, and Ulster Street. A small section of the golf driving range perimeter fence will be moved to allow for a full-sized playing field.

Work is also underway at the park, the site of a former landfill, which involves some earth works to ensure gas produced from the old landfill is property managed.