High performance sports centre to come to Mount Maunganui

Construction of a High Performance Sports Centre in Mount Maunganui is set to commence from next month.

Tauranga City Council agreed in February to contribute approximately $1 million towards the $3.5 million High Performance Sports Centre on the basis Bay Venues Limited were able to source the remaining project funding.

With Bay Venues Limited having secured the requisite funds of $2.5 million the final arrangements are being made for construction to commence, with a planned completion date set for December.

Commenting on the funding, a recent statement from Bay Venues Limited Chief Executive Gary Dawson explained “we are excited to be taking the next step in bringing this world-class venue to the people of Tauranga.

“It will be an asset for the city that will be recognised nationally and internationally as a great place for skill development and sporting career growth."

The plan sees the transformation of the site of Mount Maunganui’ s old Cosmopolitan Club into a High Performance Sports Centre that will cater for a wide range of athletes, sports and high performance organisations, sports science research and athlete medical support services.

It will complement Tauranga's existing facilities at Blake Park and other facilities that include Baywave, Mt Maunganui Hot Pools, ASB Baypark and ASB Arena.

The former Cosmopolitan Club building has been vacant since the Council bought it for $6.3 million in 2009 in an arrangement clearing the way for the nearby Mount Greens project.

The building is adjacent to hockey fields, next to the Bay Cricket oval and the international class nets, as well as playing fields, netball and tennis courts.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said in a statement the overwhelming support for the project has come from a wide range of representatives from the sports world.

Mayor Crosby stated “establishing this centre is a strategic move to invest in the future of the city and build community pride.

“It will also help to grow Tauranga's reputation by developing a venue that can cater to, and host, international sports stars and events in the Bay.”

Bay Venues Limited is a limited-liability council-owned organisation set-up on 1st July 2013, to independently manage facilities on behalf of the council.

It manages 22 venues across Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa.

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