Fergusons Back Controversial White Water Stadium

Fergusons Back Controversial White Water Stadium

Olympic legend Ian Ferguson and his sons Steven and Alan will manage the controversial white water facility that is planned for South Auckland.

The $60 million stadium is stage two of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau and is due to open in 2011 in time for the Rugby World Cup.

“We are creating a world first with white water rapids the equivalent to the best we have in nature, surrounded by a native New Zealand environment in the middle of a large urban area,” said Mr Ferguson.

The community trust that runs the centre will raise $20 million for the project and has applied to The Manukau City Council for the remaining $40 million – drawing heavy fire from opponents. 

TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre CEO Richard Jeffery says this project has not been undertaken lightly: “We’ve done a huge amount of work in making sure this is the right project for Manukau. This is not about guesswork. We’ve looked at similar facilities all over the world.

“The highly successful Sydney white water facility has opened its doors for us as a key part of our feasibility and business planning process. Sydney is used by the sporting fraternity and tourists, and we’ll be expanding that here so children get the chance to experience it as well.”

Jeffery and his Chairman Noel Robinson were the driving force behind the hugely successful Pacific Events Centre which opened on budget, and on time, in 2005. Since then it has attracted more than 1.4 million visitors and given more than $1.6 million of sponsorship back to the community. 

The proposed white water facility is a national project with international appeal – it will become part of the white water kayaking world cup circuit, and will attract thousands of tourists each year along with television exposure to the world.

It will also subsidise 30,000 kiwi schoolchildren who will get an opportunity they may otherwise not experience, and will be used by recreational rafters, as well as the NZ white water kayaking and rafting teams.

The project will use the latest environmentally-friendly technology. There will be no chemicals, instead the water will be kept clean using ultra violet equipment and it will be refilled using rainwater runoff that would normally be wasted.

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