4 February
Sports fans have been given a clean place to watch their favourite games at Motueka Sports Park after Community Probation and Psychological Services (CPPS) have cleaned up facilities.
The 10-strong community work team went in on Saturday 30 January and cleaned 3,000 seats in the temporary stand which has been erected for the pre-season Blues vs Crusaders game in Motueka.“The grounds have been thoroughly cleaned, and every aisle, every row, every seat, was cleaned up by offenders on community work sentences,” says Area Manager Polly Cunningham.
The game is a one off and all work to prepare the grounds is done voluntarily, and organised by the Good Sports Motueka group. The last pre-season game here attracted a crowd of 10,000 so there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
“Community work sentences require offenders to do unpaid work in the community for non-profit organisations as reparation for their offending. Helping prepare the ground is a good way for the offenders to provide free assistance and help with a good cause.”
The group, which worked over three days initially went and wiped down seats, washed down advertising signs and swept out the Grand stand. Up until the day of the match the work party continued to sweep out the area in and around the temporary stand and grounds and ensured everything was clean.
“It’s nice to know that all those people that come in from other parts of the region and country were greeted by a well kept and clean Sports Park, and that the work has come from offenders. Their work will helped Motueka put on a good show for those watching the rugby, and it’s great that they can work for the community in this way,” says Mrs Cunningham.
Offenders on community work are sentenced by the courts on the basis of being low risk offenders.
Each year New Zealand communities benefit from almost three million hours of labour supplied through offenders serving their Community Work sentences.
Any other Motueka community groups wishing to contact CPPS for possible jobs can contact the Motueka Senior Community Work Supervisor on (03) 528 1152.
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