Punmu sports court upgrade
Punmu, Martu Country, East Pilbara, Western Australia
About the project
The Punmu sports court upgrade project was to replace the covering over the existing sports court, which had been ripped during a storm. The original covering was shadecloth, and the community wanted a cover that would provide protection from rain as well as the heat and light of the sun.
METIO developed the project with the community, and via our partnership with Engineers Without Borders we arranged an assessment from Arup engineers as to the best alternative to shade cloth. Arup recommended a PVC membrane. METIO secured a grant for funding from Western Australia’s Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries, and that money was supplemented by a grant from the Martu Charitable Trust.
Location
METIO’s role
This project didn’t require much development. METIO did the grant writing and project management.
Project team
This project was realised with the following team:
Client: Rawa Community School
Engineering: Arup
Building contractors: Weathersafe and Ashburton Cranes
Project impact
In a place of extreme heat, the PVC membrane roof protects residents from heat as well as UV rays and rain.
The court is used regularly by the school and students, encouraging physical activity and supporting good health.
As Punmu’s only sheltered gathering place, the court is also used for community meetings.