New future proposed for unused club

The council-owned building. Photo/File

Tauranga's $6.3 million white elephant, the former Cosmopolitan Club building next to Blake Park, could be converted into a high performance sports training centre.

The council-owned building has sat largely unused since it was purchased five years ago as part of a deal with Mount Greens Sports, in which the club shifted into the new Totara St complex.

A new future for the 50-year-old building and carpark has been proposed by Bay Venues Ltd (BVL), the council's commercial arm that runs the city's stadiums and aquatic centres including Baypark.

The cash-strapped council would need to find nearly $1 million to upgrade the old building, including seismic strengthening.

If the council found the money, BVL said it would set about securing $2 million by March 31 in order to progress their side of the deal, including internal fit-outs and gym equipment.

The aim was to have the building completed by January 1 next year to accommodate athletes training for the Rio Olympics.

It would cater for high performance athletes associated with sports such as NZ Sevens, Bay of Plenty Rugby, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Hockey.

Bay of Plenty Rugby could establish offices in the building, along with physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists.

The council was due to decide on the proposal today.

The staff recommendation was to sell the old building, the adjoining carpark and the rented property at 50 Miro St. They had a rateable value of nearly $6 million.

BVL said its plans for the building would not compete with what Club Aspire was planning in Bethlehem.

"The vast majority of interview participants identified a lack of funding as their major hurdle to moving to the facility and paying to use the facilities," BVL's consultant said.