Slam Dunk! New Indoor Courts A Hit With The Community
Tauranga City's newest indoor courts have been a hive of activity this week, with over 3,000 people testing out the new facility at an Open Day last Saturday before it officially opened for use on Monday.
The University of Waikato Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre has been transformed in the last 18 months from a former The Warehouse building to a fit-for-purpose indoor arena.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says it's great to see so many people already enjoying the city's newest community sport facility – the first to open in over a decade.
'The opening of Haumaru really is a win-win for the community. Purchasing and repurposing an existing building was a quick and cost-efficient way to address a community need, while at the same time being prudent with ratepayer money,' says Mahé.
'Both our city's population and participation in indoor sports is on the rise, so Haumaru adds much-needed court space to the recreation network across Tauranga.'
With four new indoor courts, Mahé says Haumaru will be a place where hundreds of people of all ages and abilities can come together on a regular basis – to play and watch sport, and take part in the other activities on offer.
'Onsite car parks, along with its central location and ease of access, are features that help make Haumaru a great facility. It also contributes to the wider transformation of Tauranga city centre, as we work to make it an even better place for people to live, learn, work and play.'
Max Pringle, a keen basketball player and student at Ōtūmoetai Intermediate, has given Haumaru the tick of approval after attending the Open Day and playing on the courts there this week.
'It's awesome to have more courts to play at. Our basketball team had our first game there on Monday and the courts, rims and backboard were perfect,' says Max.
'Mum said it was easy to find a park and that me and my mates could even catch the bus there sometimes.'
Bay Venues Chief Executive Chad Hooker says along with regular community sports events and activities, Haumaru will help host large sports tournaments that come to the city.
'Haumaru is already proving its worth to the community, as the venue is fully booked for the foreseeable future.'
Chad emphasised the importance of partnership and collaboration in delivering high-quality public amenities.
'The creation of Haumaru has been a combined effort. We've worked closely throughout with Tauranga City Council, mana whenua, community sports organisations, The University of Waikato as naming right partner, Apollo Projects as the main contractor, and many other key stakeholders in the city,' he says.
The total cost of the venue is approximately $28 million. That includes the price of the land, the building, seismic strengthening, all the improvements and construction work, and the equipment. It's important to note that building a brand-new indoor court facility of this scale at Memorial Park was estimated to cost more than $40 million.
The future of Memorial Park and whether a new aquatic centre will be built there is currently being considered by Council. The Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre (QEYC) will remain open and operating in the meantime.
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