$12 million project for Lake Karapiro launched

$12 million project for Lake Karapiro launched

A major new development project designed to create a new High Performance Centre for Rowing and other sports like Canoe and Kayak, Cycling and Triathlon, was launched this week by several sporting governing bodies hoping to attract major private and public investment.

The $12 million dollar proposal would include new on-water facilities including a new control tower and the jewel in the crown - a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for elite athletes from a range of sports.

Though separate to the plans required to stage the 2010 World Rowing Championships, it is hoped work could be completed in time for 2010 and provide a legacy that will benefit both community and elite athletes for generations to come. Waipa District Council has already brought forward its multi million dollar upgrade plans to improve the lake and its surroundings and the existing water sports complex in time for the event - to help ensure it will be to world class standards.

"We are fully behind it. The plans for the HPC are extremely exciting and have attracted support across the board. There's no question that this is great news for the wider Waikato region," said Waipa District Council Mayor Alan Livingston.

The proposed High Performance Centre would include sports science facilities as well as a gymnasium, coaching area, athletes' area, cafeteria and storage for rowing, canoeing and cycling equipment.

The concept has attracted support and endorsement from SPARC, Sport Waikato and the Hamilton City Council, the host city for the 2010 World Rowing Championships. SPARC chairman John Wells indicated to the forum of potential investors its intention to see Lake Karapiro developed as one of three potential High Performance centres for sport in New Zealand, with further facilities located in Auckland and Christchurch.

Rowing New Zealand CEO Craig Ross explained: "We want to deliver the World Championships in 2010 from world leading facilities, and therefore we need to be thinking about a long term legacy. This means looking at what we could do to turn a tired facility built in 1978 for the last World Rowing Championships held at Lake Karapiro into a major centre for rowing, for partner sports and for the community. These plans outline the vision of several sports, SPARC and other stakeholders, a vision that still requires considerable investment."

Olympic cycling champion Sarah Ulmer - who trains out of Cambridge because of the high quality and safe roads - was delighted to lend her support to the initiative, commenting: "It's a fantastic plan and I for one hope it comes off. It's just a shame it wasn't done ten years ago."

Canoe and Kayak acting CEO, Tim Jago added: "We have seen several proposals that would bring our own organisation and squads together, but so far we have not endorsed any of them because we wanted to wait until the right one came along. This is it."

ENDS

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