Media Release

7 November 2006

Council to develop Henderson Recreation Centre and West Wave Fitness Centre during 2007

Henderson’s recreational facilities could be significantly expanded next year with a major overhaul of both the existing recreation centre and the development of a expanded fitness centre at West Wave.

The council’s Special Projects Committee heard that the West Wave Fitness area is already at capacity as the whole West Wave facility rides a wave of popularity.

Increasing the size of the gym could bring in an extra half million dollars in revenue and further reduce the ratepayer-funded subsidy the council provides to West Wave.

The committee supported expansion of the gymnasium in the recreation centre, subject to a tour of the facility in November.

It also supported expansion and refurbishment to the recreation centre itself, to increase its capacity to host a variety of groups and be home to the new youth facility.

The recreation centre will be closed for about six months next year, to enable the expansion projects, plus re-roofing the facility to remove remaining asbestos, to be carried out in one go.

Users have been advised the council will assist them to find alternative premises. The West Wave aquatic centre and existing fitness centre will not be affected.

“We felt it was better to have one shut down and do everything at once rather than stage the project and prolong the inconvenience,” says committee chair, Councillor Ross Dallow.

“Furthermore, with building costs rising at about 1% per month the sooner we get the work done the less expensive it will be. Having said that, this will be mostly will be capital expenditure. So, we will, in effect, take out a mortgage to be repaid over time, so the impact of rates will be minimal,” he says.

The projects will cost $2.5 million dollars.

Councillor Dallow says that project is in line with the Council’s objective of building a “people city” by creating adequate recreation and leisure facilities and building up the existing facilities.

The council will negotiate lease and hire arrangements with users once the refurbishment work is finished.

“We won’t know until then, exactly what terms and conditions will apply. It is also possible that by then, some users will have found premises that suit them better,” he says.

“However, we can say that the skaters will not be able to return because the skates will damage the new floor. That’s a shame but we will obviously do whatever we can to help them find a new home,” Councillor Dallow says.

ENDS

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