Iceinline Ice Rink Roof Proposal
The roof project is the final stage in a three-stage enhancement of Iceinline Central’s facilities, which included the installation of a new ice making plant and heat exchange unit completed in 2018, and the construction of a separate indoor curling facility, which was opened in 2021.
Iceinline Central Incorporated wants to construct a roof over its ice rink at Molyneux Park in order to maximise rink use and extend its season from 13 weeks to closer to 21 weeks (April-September).
Iceinline believes roofing the rink, and therefore protecting the rink from rain and sun, will have the following benefits. It will:
- reduce the number of “closed days” the facility has due to weather
- extend the season for all public users and clubs (skating, curling and ice hockey)
- allow more competitions to be hosted at either local, provincial or national level
- provide certainty for school programmes an encourage participation from schools located further away
- encourage visitors to come and use the indoor curling facility while family members are entertained at the ice rink
- additional activities will bring more people to the facility providing added revenue to Iceinline and the Alexandra community
Fundraising
In May 2022 plans to cover Alexandra’s outdoor ice skating rink were bolstered by $350,000 thanks to the Central Lakes Trust (CLT).
CLT chief executive Susan Finlay said the trust had worked with Iceinline since the project began, supporting all three stages over the years.
‘‘It’s great to see the entire facility will be completely upgraded. It is a wonderful asset for Alexandra and wider community,’’ she said.
‘‘Skaters, curlers and ice hockey players have had a wonderful local asset. This will extend its use and benefit for the community.’’
The Vincent Community Board (VCB) has been asked to help support this project with a $400,000 grant towards the construction.
In 2016 the VCB provided a grant of $650,000 to Iceinline to purchase the new plant to enable the ice rink to transfer excess heat made during the ice making process to the nearby Alexandra Pool. This is being repaid by Vincent ratepayers over a 20-year term. As of 30 June this year $531,150 will remain to be repaid on the original grant.
We need everyone’s support to make this happen.
Our skating season in Alex is continuing to reduce as the seasons change, and rain is having a big impact.
We all love the outdoor nature of the Alex rink, but unfortunately it’s just not sustainable. Ice Skating has a massive history in our region, something that needs protected into the future. Ice sports provide massive life long learnings to our young people, something our club is passionate they will carry for life.
The design of the roof structure is to best maintain the outdoor feeling, and mountain views to the south, while protecting the ice surface from rain and shading it from the Northern sun, therefore extending our season and providing the opportunity for more events to be held as the ice surface can be guaranteed. AISC would like to thank the Roof Committee for all their hard work on this.
Alexandra Ice Skating Club, Facebook
