Mount Maunganui's old Cosmopolitan Club is being transformed into a high-performance sports centre. Photo / John Borren
Mount Maunganui's old Cosmopolitan Club is being transformed into a high-performance sports centre. Photo / John Borren
Reconstruction of the former Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan Club into a high-performance sports centre could end up costing the Tauranga City Council an extra $150,000.
Peeling off the council-owned building's facade for the upgrade revealed additional work was needed to bring it up to standard.
The council was already committed to funding $977,000 of the "make-good" upgrade costs including a seismic upgrade, re-roofing and weather tightness works.
Mount Maunganui's old Cosmopolitan Club
The potential additional costs were revealed yesterday during an update on progress to convert the old club into a high-performance sports centre. The centre was a joint project between the council and its council-controlled commercial arm, Bay Venues, which owns and operates the city's halls, stadiums and aquatic centres.
Project leader for city development Morgan Jones said the sports centre next to Blake Park was on target to open late December or January.
Gary Dawson, Bay Venues chief executive
Seventy-five to 80 per cent of the building was tenanted, including the New Zealand Rugby Football Union's NZ Sevens programme, sports science and sports medicine providers and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.
Mr Jones said there was still about 200sq m of upstairs space to be tenanted. The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic had pulled out of the project but they were hopeful that Waikato University would take over the space.
In response to a question from Councillor Gail McIntosh, he said the council's contribution would be to a maximum of an additional $150,000.
Building consents had been issued and construction began in late July by Marra Construction. Veros Property Partners were appointed to oversee the project.
Councillor Catherine Stewart was told that the additional money had not been budgeted and would come out of the property account.
Bay Venues' work to secure tenants has led to interest in retaining the council-owned neighbouring property at 50 Miro St for expansion of the centre. The council has given Bay Venues first rights to buy the property until December 20, 2015.
Bay Venues chief executive Gary Dawson said they were also working closely with the board of the Cosmopolitan Club, which relocated into the nearby modern sports and club complex.
The council was also working with the Blake Park User Forum to build greater capacity into the park.
Benefits of High Performance Sports Centre
* Uses a building that's been under-utilised since 2010
