Hutt sporting flagship moves to stage 2

Work has begun on a facility that is being promoted as a game changer for sport across the Wellington region.

After nine years of talk and planning Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace said he was delighted that work on stage two of Fraser Park Sportsville at Avalon had finally begun.

He predicted it would be a ‘‘flagship for sport in the valley’’ and have a positive impact on the local community.

‘‘A kid in sport, is a kid out of court, that is so true.

‘‘What we are doing here is bringing a world-class facility to this community.’’

Stage one was completed in 2015, featuring three new softball diamonds, an artificial football turf, lighting and landscaping costing $3 million.

Stage two, costing $12 million, includes a 100-metre-long and 30-metre-wide building serving a range of clubs and codes, includ- ing rugby, softball, hockey and squash.

Other features include six squash courts, indoor training facilities and a cafe.

At 27 hectares, Fraser Park is the biggest sporting ground in the lower North Island and the new facilities, would allow it to host national events in a range of sports.

The council hopes it will become the premier sporting facility in Wellington.

Construction is expected to take one year and the clubs would then relocate to the new facility.

The grandstand is to be demolished and the council is looking at using some of the existing clubrooms, for accommodation.

Fraser Park Sportsville chairman Mark Heissenbuttel said it had taken nine years of hard work to reach this point.

‘‘In one years time, we will be sitting up in the bar and reflecting on something that is great for the Hutt Valley,’’ he said.