THE upgrade of the Tamworth Hockey Centre is making progress despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wet weather.
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Two of the three new water-based pitches have been complete and construction of the third has begun.
Away from the field, construction of the centre's new amenities block is also near competition.
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Tamworth Hockey Association president Mark O'Connor said while the project had experienced "some dramas" it was progressing well.
"We've been affected by a bad run of wet weather at the wrong time when the surfaces were being put down," O'Connor said.
"There's also been specialists who haven't been able to travel due to coronaviurs, so we have had to work around that.
"However, the contractor and the council have been forging on trying to get good results and we are very much on the final straight now."
O'Connor said once complete, the opening of the centre could coincide with the lifting of the government's restrictions on public gatherings, making for a large celebration.
"I know everyone involved is very eager to get back out there," he said.
"It will be even more exciting that if when we do unveil the centre, it coincides with the resumption of play, it will be a Cinderella story for us.
"At this stage, we are expecting an announcement from Hockey NSW this week with a revised start date, which gives us something a date to work towards."
The restrictions have meant the association missed out on hosting the NSW Men's 40-45 Masters tournament later this year.
However, O'Connor said he was confident Tamworth could host the tournament again in the future.
"They have said they want to bring that event back next year," he said.
"I think that's the beauty of what this new upgrade will bring us.
"Once complete, it will boost our local competitions, our representative teams and will encourage more events to be held here.
"It will be the envy of other regional hockey associations around the country and will certainly help keep Tamworth at the top of the list for big events."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
