MUNICIPAL workers have started working on a new boundary fence around the Queensmead hockey grounds in Umbilo.
Ward councillor, Nicole Graham, said she was thrilled to see work had commenced, adding that it would make a difference to the overall look of the stadium which is used for international games. She said it also increased the safety aspect as the new wall secured the stadium and people could no longer use the gaps in the fence as a thoroughfare.
Some months ago Graham approached the city’s Parks Department division with a request to fix the boundary fence which was in a state of disrepair. Initially, she was told there was no budget available and that the matter would have to wait for the budget allocated to the Commonwealth Games to come into effect before maintenance could commence. However, in November 2015 she received an email from the city’s Engineering Department indicating that funds had been made available to fix the gate and fence around the stadium. “The work started two weeks ago, after I was told funds had been located in a capital infrastructure block sum. I am so pleased as it looks great and was long overdue,” she said.
Graham said there was another positive to this project, that local residents were being used to help build the fence.
“It is good to know that five people living in Umbilo have been employed to erect the fence and will benefit from the project,” she said.