Planned sport and rec centre takes step forward
The people of Katikati love their sport and social recreational activities, but the lack of a dedicated recreational centre with multiple uses has been holding back improving local lifestyles.
Too many groups like football, cricket, wrestling, Scouts, Guides, martial arts, and athletics, do not have dedicated clubrooms, changing rooms, toilets or facilities that are up to today’s standards or needs. Many other community users are in desperate need of indoor space, especially as the community grows.
Providing multi-code clubrooms/conference centre, workshop areas, dedicated indoor training, social and competitive sports space and public toilets for Moore Park will provide the long overdue infrastructure.
Several clubs cannot host games with facilities that some competitions require. Providing indoor recreation space will help other organisations, for example the Primary School as they lack a gymnasium. The centre opens the door for social indoor netball, futsal, cricket, hockey, gym sports and indoor climbing walls, all which require travel to Tauranga or further. It will allow for indoor training space in inclement weather for all codes. The centre undoubtedly will create a healthy space and positive outcomes for our community.
The Katikati Sport & Recreation Centre (KKSRC) has appointed a new project committee tasked with moving the project forward as quickly as possible. This is a dedicated group of professional volunteers taking on roles.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Richard (Rick) Gerrish onboard as Project Manager. Rick project managed the
Ōmokoroa Sports Pavilion build and is a very experienced professional in Quantity Surveying and Construction Cost Management” explains Ben Warren of KKSRC. The committee of six is an exciting one with John Kaczon a Chartered Engineer, Nicola Austin NZ Olympian and World Rowing Champion, Neil Harray ex Katikati College Principal and ERO Officer, Laura Young marketing and sales and Ben Warren sports and facility management, and NZ Masters Rep. All have strong links to sport and recreation locally.
The KKSRC has achieved a funding level to allow it to engage professional architects to create a final concept design and building plans. The Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival have wonderfully supported the project from the start. Recently the Katikati Community Board acknowledged the local support for the project by committing $50,000 in funding. The committee are hopeful that WBOPDC will engage further by matching the Community Board’s contribution.
Staged Building
The Centre may be built in two stages. Stage One will likely see much-needed public toilets, changing facilities, clubrooms, working space and a smaller indoor facility. Stage Two will be the large indoor centre and community multipurpose workspace. The designs and plans will be ready for public viewing in early 2023.
“This will be a welcoming venue for all members of our community to come together and really feel part of something bigger, instead of arriving, participating, and then leaving straight away again because there’s nowhere to get changed or socialise afterwards. It will be particularly special for our rangatahi/youth to have a space where they will feel valued and safe to visit and belong to when they may have nowhere else to go,” says Nicky Austin
The expectations are that local participation rates will markedly increase once the new centre opens its doors.
“The entire district’s population is growing,” says Laura Young, “and parents are travelling in horrible traffic, from home and work to pick their kids up to take them out to activities. If they can do those activities locally, then this will allow more quality family time without sitting for hours in the car.”
Much of this project is for the younger generations but also will provide links to our older and aging population. It is especially about having good facilities in our own community. “We hope that everyone can get in behind the project and support it,” says Neil Harray.
Rick Gerrish says, “The KKSRC has established a highly respected management committee who are all dedicated to seeing the project through its journey from concept to completion. The project will benefit all the residents of Katikati and surrounding areas, we hope everyone can help support the build.”