Game on for Network Waitaki Events Centre contract
Published on 19 December 2023
Waitaki District Councillors today approved the contract award for the long awaited Network Waitaki Events Centre.
The construction phase, of which Waitaki District Council is contributing $15 million dollars of the $32 million dollar price tag, will have detailed designs available in early-2024 with an anticipated site construction from April. Funding has also been secured from Network Waitaki, the Otago Community Trust, The Lotteries Facilities Fund and many community donors, through the Event Centre Trust. The project at Centennial Park involved is now split into two stages, outlined below.
The first stage of the project will see the demolition of the existing Centennial Park grandstand at a cost of $300k the construction of the new six-court, multipurpose facility alongside that site. The new facility will have meeting and conference spaces, moveable seating and provide an indoor alternative to the current outdoor courts on the east side of Taward Street.
Given the demolition of the grandstand, field sports who were using the old facilities will be accommodated within the changing rooms of the new events centre.
The second stage of the project, billed at up to $4 million, is not a part of the existing fundraising and will require community and third party funding. It would involve the construction of replacement grandstand seating, additional changing rooms and toilet facilities for field sports and office space for field sporting codes operating out of Centennial Park.
The contract itself is fixed-price, meaning any cost overruns would not require further funding from Waitaki District Council. The current funds raised has paid for the building construction.
There remains around $3.7 million dollars in funding needed to fund the fit out costs regarding the build, which the Events Centre Trust is hoping can be raised from community fundraising. The estimated construction time is around 24 months.
Mayor Gary Kircher says: “After a lot of work by many people, it’s good to approve this contract award with the intent of getting construction work going early next year. A key aspect of that work has ensured that any risk associated with the project is minimised as much as possible to protect ratepayers. The Network Waitaki Events Centre will be a great boost to our community, providing much needed indoor recreational space, and benefit the local economy by attracting other events.”
Apollo Projects Director and owner Paul Lloyd says “Apollo Projects is extremely proud to be supporting the Waitaki District to deliver the Design and Build of the new Waitaki Events Centre. We will draw on our extensive experience in the delivery of sports and events centres and can’t wait to see this exciting project take shape. Our organisation is committed to contributing back to the communities we live and work in and is looking forward to the opportunity to do so on this project”
ENDS
This page has been updated to correct an error in the original media release, which stated there were $2.7 million remaining to be raised. The correct number is $3.7 million, as featured in the Business Case and other documents used by Council to make its decision. The incorrect number only featured in the media release, and we apologise for this error.