Site of multi-million dollar sports complex unveiled

A massive sport and exhibition centre will be built behind the speedway and rugby stadium at Baypark in Tauranga within four years.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby yesterday announced that Baypark - which already had 4000 carparks - was the preferred site for the 11,200sq m single span centre, ahead of an airport site or a location at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Windermere campus.

But Mr Crosby said in the near future the council could still undertake a joint venture with the polytechnic for a facility capable of holding three netball courts, or other indoor-sporting activities.

The council wants to build one of the biggest sport and exhibition centres in the country at Baypark for a cost of between $25 million and $35 million - it has capped its own contribution at $25m and the rest will come from external funding.

The centre, which will open in 2010, will be big enough to handle nine netball or 12 volleyball courts - and three more netball courts could be added at a later stage if there was demand.

Mr Crosby said the Baypark option saved the council time and money.

"It already has a resource consent - that's saving us at least a year and a half-million dollars plus on the planning process - it already has car parking and it is a central location. We also own the land and we are delighted to start negotiations with the Baypark management on the future of the site," he said.

The council will own the sport and exhibition centre and have its own team running it. But it will negotiate with Blue Chip Stadium over traffic management in and out of the stadium and over the use of the carpark, which can be extended to 6000 spaces.

"We don't intend to build a grandiose monument but we want to make sure it is functional for both sport and exhibitions," Mr Crosby said.

Blue Chip Stadium owner and local MP Bob Clarkson said he was pleased a new sport and exhibition centre was being built - wherever it went.

He said he would be interested in building the sport and exhibition centre at Baypark. "I haven't seen any plans yet but I think I could do it a few million dollars cheaper."

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES