South Waikato Sport and Events Centre
The South Waikato Sport and Events Centre is GOING AHEAD! After 20 years of discussion, this long awaited project is finally set to get started. Click on the 'Read More' button below to keep up to date with this exciting new project as we start with the demolition of the old grandstand, installation of services and site preparation.
Background
The South Waikato Sport and Events Centre Project has been discussed by the communuity and Council for over 20 years. Following signoff recently from Council, this project is now set to become reality. Council first indicated support for the project in 2004; over the past five or six years the project was led by the South Waikato Sport and Leisure Board and various other groups and individuals who worked really hard to get the project to the stage where Council last year stepped in to take the lead role. Council consulted on the project during several Annual Plans and Long Term Plan. Major consultation in 2008 resulted in 354 submissions in support of the Sport and Events Centre and 32 submissions in opposition.
In general, those in favour of the proposal pointed to the desirability of: supporting local sporting groups; providing an alternative venue for youth activities; promoting a healthy lifestyle; provifing a venue for large cultural events; providing an indoor venue for large community functions and enhancing the facilities available to residents of the South Waikato. Submitters opposing the facility tended to be mainly concerned about the cost of the centre and its ongoing affordability.
In recent months
A number of milestones have been achieved in recent months, including:
- awarding the design/build contract to Argon and Pete Bossley Consultants
- the establisment of two committees: the Project Control Group and the Design Group (both of these groups involve Council staff, elected members, leisure experts and project managers) to keep the project moving forward
- the successful processing of the resource consent
- successfully securing funding from the Lion Foundation ($300,000), Trust Waikato ($500,000) and Lotteries ($750,000)
- building consent application received (however this is currently on hold while the project manager works with the construction company to tidy up a few points)
- Formal Council signoff
Progress Newsletters
Council will be producing regular newsletters to keep the public informed on its progress.
- September 2011 Newsletter (947kb PDF)
- October 2011 Newsletter (437Kb PDF)
- November/December 2011 (417Kb PDF)
Below is the architect's impression of what the South Waikato Sport and Events Centre will look like.
