All go at High Performance Sports Training Centre

All go at High Performance Sports Training Centre

Approval has been given by the Board of Bay Venues Ltd to complete the final phase of developing a High Performance Sports Training Centre at Tauranga’s Blake Park.

Work has begun on the project with contractors on site this week at the former Mt Maunganui Cosmopolitan Club, which is being converted into a top-class facility for talented athletes.

Bay Venues Chief Executive Gary Dawson confirmed today that New Zealand Rugby will use the centre as a training base for both men’s and women’s Sevens teams. Other tenants were due to be announced over the next month.

“It is an endorsement of what we are offering. It is recognition that we are creating a world class facility.

“We have said from the start it will be an asset for the city as it would be recognised nationally and internationally as a great place for skill development and sporting career growth. We are seeing this already. It will be used by New Zealand Rugby’s Sevens players, for example, as their training base as they head into a very important year leading up to the Olympics,” Mr Dawson said.

Tauranga City Council has agreed to fund up to one million dollars toward the project proposed by Bay Venues Limited. It is up to Bay Venues to raise the additional two million for the internal fit-out and purchase of gym equipment. Council’s financial input will cover the upgrade of the building in accordance with watertight and seismic requirements.

Initial work on site includes commencing the interior gut-out and erecting temporary scaffolding and wrap to allow external weather-tightness work to begin.

The project is set to be completed by the end of December 2015.

Tauranga City Council Mayor Stuart Crosby says overwhelming support for the project has come from a wide range of representatives from the sports world.

The High Performance Sports Training Centre will cater for a wide range of sports and performance organisations, sports science research, and athlete medical support services.

It will complement Tauranga’s existing facilities at the neighbouring Blake Park and other facilities run by Bay Venues, including Baywave, Mt Maunganui Hot Pools, ASB Baypark and ASB Arena.

Establishing such a facility is in line with Bay Venue’s philosophy of enhancing the community through the provision of excellent leisure and sporting facilities, Mr Dawson said.

ENDS

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