New sports stadium for Hamilton

A 5000-seat indoor stadium and accommodation for up to 300 people are part of a $62 million sports complex planned for Hamilton.

The Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) unveiled its plan today, but chairman Gordon Chesterman warned it was "absolutely conditional" on finding major international funding.

The 24ha complex is planned for Wintec's Avalon Campus and will include a sports science centre, gymnastics, weights and exercise facilities, a 25m indoor swimming pool, rugby, soccer and hockey fields and a running track.

Work could start in 2006.

The planned school of sport and exercise science would train any one from pre-school teachers to top athletes.

Wintec consultant and former international cricketer John Parker said the centre would have a three-pronged approach.

It would train teachers and health professionals to get more people involved in physical activity, train coaches, referees and administrators "to a new level" and cater for high performance athletes.

"We get all this news about how unfit our communities are. This is an effort to train leaders to ensure New Zealand is fit and healthy," Parker said.

Building and facilities would cost about $50 million, and the Wintec land was valued at $12 million.

Chesterman said he was confident the organisation would be able to attract a major international sponsor to foot that bill.

"Where I see that stream of funding coming from is a major Japanese corporation," he said.

He said any major sponsor would receive naming rights for the indoor stadium.

- NZPA