Cheers as stadium work at last lifts off

Although short of more than $200,000, building development of the Northland Athletics and Gymnastics Trust Stadium is under way.

Stage one was the all-weather athletics track at Kensington Park, and the $5.3 million stage two will result in a grandstand with a 500-person capacity overlooking the track, with a gymnasium backing on to the grandstand, on Whangarei's Park Avenue.

For the project to happen, Whangarei District Council purchased 10 houses around the site and removed them earlier this year.

Yesterday the Northland Athletics and Gymnastics Trust gathered at the site of the new stadium to celebrate getting the green light to start stage two of the development next month.

For Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics head coach and trustee Vicki Macdonald, the project is exciting.

Whangarei Gymnastics headquarters is at present a "shed" at the back of a warehouse at Kamo's Winger Cres.

"We originally went there because we needed a big space and it was what was available at the time ... but it is in an industrial area, freezing cold in winter and stinking hot in summer. It's not visible and it is hard for kids to get to - they rely on their parents to get them there," Macdonald said.

The new site is centrally located and easily accessible and Macdonald said it is hoped numbers belonging to WAGs will double from its current 400 members when the new facility is completed.

During the 21 years she has been coaching at WAGs, the organisation submitted several applications to build a new headquarters in a central location, close to or at Kensington Park, so when consent was finally given for the proposal to go ahead this year, Macdonald was relieved.

"We're still $231,000 short of the amount we need for all of the final fittings so we are looking for sponsors," she said.

Meanwhile, fellow trustee and president of Athletics Whangarei, Ian Babe, explained work was expected to be finished by October 2012.

"It will be excellent to have gymnastics and athletics together. It is the ideal mix as both are key developmental sports ... we are looking forward to co-operating together - it looks exciting for the future," Babe said.