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The team behind the proposed multi-sport centre at the Warkworth Showgrounds is asking a few locals to roll up their sleeves and get involved to help get the project over the line.
The design for the centre, which has been in the pipeline for nearly a decade, has gone through a recent iteration, which means it has to reapply for both landowner’s consent and resource consent from Auckland Council.
However, Mahurangi Sport and Recreation Board chair Graham Buchs and president Mark Illingworth say the reconfiguration has been worth the delay.
“We now have a design that focuses squarely on the sports elements of the complex,” they say. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking to a lot of sports clubs and the design changes reflect their feedback.
“We want to build a facility that will meet the needs of this community for many years to come.”
In particular, we are looking for people with governance and fundraising expertise, and we also need a treasurer.
Graham Buchs
A major change in the new design is that a functions area has been deleted and will be looked at again in Phase Two, and possibly at a different location in the park.
Buchs says the biggest challenge the project faces at the moment is recruiting willing volunteers for a number of sub-committees.
In particular, they are looking for people with governance and fundraising expertise, and they also need a treasurer.
“We have good board level support except for a treasurer, but we know once this project evolves, we will need people on the ground to make it happen,” Buchs says.
Governance is a priority and the board is looking for someone with the expertise and experience to lead a governance and fundraising sub-committee.
Young parents are being asked to give the idea of volunteering some thought.
“It is the toddlers of today who will be the beneficiaries, so it would be awesome to get some support from young families,” Illingworth says.
He says that although the district’s population is growing, the number of people prepared to put their hand up to help is dwindling.
The multi-sport centre will include four full sized basketball courts and a purpose-built gymnasium. It will cater for the key sports of netball, basketball, pickleball, badminton, Futsal, indoor hockey, gymnastics and bouldering, as well as many other codes.
“It will be an amazing facility for the town,” Illingworth says.
The estimated cost to build is $12 million, of which Auckland Council has already agreed to contribute $2,250,000. It will be up to the board to raise around $10 million.
Current board members are president Mark Illingworth, chair Graham Buchs, secretary Karlie Stanbra, interim treasurer Nicola Jones, and Koen McGee, Jo Morrison, Cameron Gray, Sean Mitchell, Gerard van Tilborg and John Hunt (Harbour Basketball chief executive).
The board will hold its annual general meeting at the Bayleys office, corner Mill Lane and Queen Street, on Monday, June 12, starting at 7.30pm. All welcome.
Enquiries and info: email mahusport@gmail.com or phone Graham Buchs on 027 840 7592.
Upcoming fundraiser
A BoostedSport campaign will be held later this year to fundraise for both the multi-sport and the bike and skate park projects. This crowdfunding campaign involves setting a target and encouraging people to donate to reach that target. Board interim treasurer Nicola Jones says you can have seed donors (ones who start you off with a set amount) or match funders (those who match the funding up to a certain value) and then ones who just donate what they can. “It might be a good way to get the community behind this project,” she says. Anyone who would like to assist with the project or donate some funding can get in touch with Jones via mahusport@gmail.com or mahubikeandskate@gmail.com.
