$40m Millennium overhaul key to strategy

A $40 million overhaul of the Millennium Institute is the key project in the Government's effort to improve high-performance sporting facilities.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Murray McCully yesterday unveiled the Government's high-performance strategy, announcing a big funding boost - to $60 million a year by 2013.

It involves an $80 million expansion of the country's sporting infrastructure over the next three years, creating a network of high-performance facilities throughout the country.

The key project will be a $40 million refurbishment of the Millennium Institute, to which the Government will contribute $15 million. The North Shore City Council will chip in with a further $10 million but the Millennium trustees will have to find a further $7 million.

McCully said a further $40 million was needed for the expansion and to build additional satellite centres with the vision of "creating a hot-house environment with the best coaching, sports science and other specialist services to which our athletes can have access".

The South Island branch of the Academy of Sport based at the QEII centre in Christchurch is in line for a revamp, while a number of new high-performance hubs will be created, with regional academy feeders in Wellington and Dunedin. NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister said it was important that the investment is spread throughout the country.

"It's not just the Millennium. We've always advocated for a throughout New Zealand approach. People in Invercargill don't necessarily have to up sticks and move to Auckland if they've got a kid with outstanding ability. That's why QEII's important. There needs to be a South and a North Island presence."

Plans for the ocean sports centre, which will service yachting, triathlon and ocean kayaking, are already well advanced. The facility will be based in Takapuna with the NSCC to be key contributors.

A cycling centre of excellence, which will include a new velodrome in the North Island is also in the pipeline.

Canoe Racing New Zealand will move its high performance base to Lake Karapiro, where it will share facilities with rowing.

While central government is driving the initiatives, it is relying on strategic partnerships with local government and the private sector to bring their plans to life.

McCully said while there was still a lot of money to find, it was important to get the thinking straight and the roadmap in place.

"It is still a work in progress, but government funds are committed and discussions with partners are well advanced."

Millennium Institute chief executive Mike Stanley said the Government's investment was unprecedented.

The institute, already home to the country's largest high-performance community, has outgrown its current digs and has long recognised the need for expansion.

The specs for the Millennium redevelopment have been completed for some time, but it was just a matter of finding the finances to get the project off the ground.

"The trust recognises the challenges our athletes are facing to remain competitive, which is behind our decision to convert a thriving high-performance centre into a truly world-class one."

The redevelopment will double the floor space of the centre, and will include the addition of a new state-of-the-art 50m pool, and a dedicated strength, conditioning and recovery centre which will be a base for world-class coaching and support services.

Now the funding is in place construction will begin in November, with the first facilities available for use in September next year.

Stanley said the institute had also put its hand up to house the cycling centre of excellence, but accepted there were other keen regions. Sparc will manage the application process.

CASH INJECTION

* An immediate monetary boost of $10 million on top of existing spend, increasing to $15 million, then $20 million annually in subsequent years.

* By 2013, the annual spend will be more than $60 million a year compared with $42 million today.

* The establishment of a High Performance Institute within Sparc.

* The Millennium Institute will undergo a $40 million facelift to become the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport.

* A further $40 million development of a network of satellite facilities, including the South Island Academy of Sport at QEII Park.

* More direct funding of our top athletes.