Centre gets new manager

Brendon Rope is the new operations and commercial manager for the Hawke s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust. Photo/File

Former sports administrator and facility manager Brendon Rope has been appointed operations and commercial manager for the Hawke's Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust.

Rope, a former CEO of the Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier, will manage the new EIT Institute of Sport and Health currently being built at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings.

He starts next month and will be responsible for getting the facility ready for opening. He will then run the institute's operations and commercial activities.

Trust chairman Sir Graeme Avery was pleased to have such an experienced person joining the team at such a critical stage in the project. "Brendon is a good operator who will certainly add value to the trust team. He is also committed to Hawke's Bay and wants the best health and sports outcomes for the people of the region."

Rope believes the new facility will have a big impact on Hawke's Bay.

"It is nice to have the high-performance sport component because it is aspirational for the population but, more importantly, if we can get better health statistics for our region, that is the big winner," he said.

Construction on the $15 million first phase of the Stage I Institute began this year with completion of the main building and indoor sports hall and community gym expected in April next year, for opening by mid-2019.

Phase II of Stage I, construction of an accommodation hostel, is expected to start later this year.

The third phase of Stage I is expected to begin later next year and will be an extension of the building.

Stage II, which is still a few years off, will see the building of an Aquatic Centre with a 50m Olympic pool and a learn-to-swim pool.