Staveley Hall Society
$120,000 – Ice Rink Refrigeration project
The Staveley Ice Skating & Curling Rinks are completely unique in the Ashburton and Mid Canterbury area.
The Staveley Hall Society has managed the Staveley Ice Rink in a volunteer capacity for the last thirty years. The ice-skating rink opened in 1951 and is one of the few natural ice-skating locations remaining in New Zealand. The effects of climate change and increasingly warm winters have led to limited opening of the rink in recent years. The objective of this project is to develop and deliver infrastructure works capable of delivering a guaranteed three-month opening Ice Skating & Curling season per annum. The aim of this project is to keep the natural environment un-touched with the rink surrounded by native Beech Forest. The Staveley Hall Society have existing use rights with the Ashburton District Council for the running of the rink.
We will, as we have done in the past, make the Rink available to the local Schools & Preschools free of charge thus giving an opportunity for disadvantaged youth to access the Rink. We will also continue to offer this asset to vulnerable or disadvantaged community groups in the Ashburton District. We will be keeping the daily skate and hire fees for the Rink the same, we feel this will continue to make this an affordable family activity. We have been told that the rink is a very important part of the mental health of our local community. This was very evident over the three days that we were able to open last season. With the Flooding event the Staveley area was hit hard this year with a lot of farmers struggling. Being able to open in the evening with the fire, music and skating it was good to see locals coming out and talking.
The improved rink re-opened for the 2023 season on 1st July 2023.
