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The Mahurangi Sport and Recreation Collective continues to churn through required paperwork to secure the necessary approvals from Auckland Council for a new multisport facility and bike and skate park at Warkworth showgrounds.
Spokesperson Nicola Jones says the Collective has had some preliminary designs drawn up, but cannot really progress them until it has secured Council’s agreement on the use of the land.
Meanwhile, the Collective continues to consult with regional sports groups on the precise nature of the facility.
Jones says there has been especially strong interest from groups wishing to host pickleball, badminton and basketball at the new facility.
“Harbour basketball tell us there is a huge demand for basketball courts north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It’s a sport that is growing exponentially at the moment,” she says.
She adds that in the wider Warkworth area there are simply not enough existing indoor facilities to cope with demand.
“A lot of clubs don’t have the ability to grow and some cannot even establish themselves because there is nowhere to base themselves.”
Jones says the Collective is busy connecting with all interested groups to ascertain their needs so that the new facility might cater for them, and this necessarily takes time.
It is anticipated that the new facility will feature one or more netball courts – the largest indoor court – with smaller courts marked within them.
A separate space would accommodate gym sports. When not being used as a gym, this space could be used for yoga, tai chi, preschool groups or exercise groups for seniors.
In addition, there will likely be a reception area, offices, kitchen, and toilets. Future stages of the project could include lounges, bars and changing rooms.
The Collective has applied to Auckland Council’s sport and recreation fund to help build the centre. The Collective hopes the Council will “put some skin in the game” before it seeks additional money from private and other donors.
In 2018, the Rodney Local Board approved a grant of $150,000 to cover the cost of the design and geological engineering required for the construction of the facility.
Jones says the Collective hopes to begin construction of the multisport centre at the end of this year.
