The new Wanaka Sports facility construction has begun with a view to completion by the end of 2016.
Community consultation and debate has continued for many years particularly with respect to the location of the facilities.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council intends to provide a significant community asset that will meet current and foreseeable needs over the next 10-15 years, as identified by the Wanaka sporting and recreation community after extensive consultation. The Wanaka Sport Facility will be staged and configured so that it can be expanded to meet future demand.
The Council has budgeted $16.84 million for stage 1 of the complex, including land acquisition, in the current Long-term Plan.
The proposed facilities mix for Stage 1 of the Wanaka sports facilities include;
- A sports hall with three courts with provision to expand to five.
- Two football fields with floodlighting
- A grassed area, outdoor paved court area and playground for casual recreational use
- A multi use sand filled turf area
- A cycle/ fitness track around the perimeter
The Wanaka sports facility plans stage 2 are completed – an aquatic center and a center for excellence for sport, to be completed as funding and perceived needs dictate.
The Council is however, considering options for providing the Wanaka community with a pool as soon as possible with significant consultation about the location, funding options and extent of the facilities underway. Consent from the community to proceed is required due to the preferred funding option which would require a rates increase. The Council’s preferred option is to build an eight lane lap pool and a learner’s pool costing an estimated $11.8 million at Three Parks as part of Stage One of the Wanaka Sports Facility.
The picture shows an artist’s impression of what the proposed Wanaka Sports Facility could look like. The pool is not currently provided for in Stage 1, but its location is indicated in the picture.
With the population growth we are experiencing in the Wanaka Queenstown region the sporting clubs are reporting a massive expansion in numbers participating particularly in the junior grades. Sports facilities currently barely meet the needs of the Wanaka community, especially the pool where learn to swim programmes are compromised by the temperature and depth of the facilities.
This sports facility is sure to enhance the lifestyle of our Wanaka community which has a significant component of the population participating in sporting activities and the explosion in numbers of children in the area.
UPDATE
The framing for the sports hall has been erected and the concrete slab poured with the construction on time (and hopefully on budget!!) to open on time in the middle of 2016.
http://www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/major-projects/wanaka-sports-facility/