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An impression of how the proposed $30.7M regional events centre might look.
As proposed, the Northland Regional Council (NRC) would foot roughly three-quarters of the bill - $23.6M - for the 20,000 capacity events centre/stadium.
The Council today (Mon 28 February) revealed plans for an independent survey of 1000 Northlanders in March to gauge public support for the facility and says the Council will be guided by the outcome.
The events centre proposal is being overseen by a Steering Committee set up in June last year and whose members include representatives of the Regional Council, Northland’s three District Councils and regional sports body Sport Northland.
Steering Group Chairman, former Regional Councillor Rod McKay, says a detailed report by Australian-based consultants Stratcorp suggests the events centre be developed at Okara Park on the existing ITM Stadium site. It also recommends the NRC pay the lion’s share of the cost via a targeted rate over 10 years.
This would see NRC ratepayers with properties more than 50 kilometres from the stadium paying approximately $24 extra in their annual rates bill, those within 50km $48 and all commercial property owners within the Whangarei District an extra $96.
“The different charges proposed recognise that while an events centre would be an asset for the entire region, people in the Whangarei District would be likely to make the greatest use of it and enjoy many of the resulting economic benefits.”
Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says at this stage the NRC is “firmly neutral” on the proposal and Councillors will be guided by the response to the market research as to whether they should put forward a draft budget to raise a loan for the project.
Mr McKay says Stratcorp consulted widely with a number of different sporting groups and other potential events centre users last year.
The resulting approximately 150-page report recommends the stadium be used by the rugby, rugby league and soccer codes for matches up to international standard as well as for sports training camps, community events and business functions. It estimates the annual economic benefits from high profile rugby matches alone to be more than $3.5 million.
Controlled use of the facility (to protect its playing surfaces) is also recommended for concerts, cultural events and outdoor shows and exhibitions.
Mr McKay says as well as extensive public seating, the proposed facility would also boast a two-lane, 25-metre lap pool, media and gym facilities, a 60-person lecture theatre, a sports medicine centre, corporate dining facilities for up to 500, six corporate suites (each for 10-15 people) and 15 open air corporate boxes (each also able to host 10-15 people).
“These facilities may seem impressive but in fact are effectively standard requirements for modern stadia, particularly those designed to host professional sporting events.”
He says members of the region’s three District Councils have all been briefed on the proposal and have agreed in principle to the investigation process.
The research would be carried out by National Research Bureau and involve an eight-minute telephone interview of 400 people in each of the Whangarei and Far North Districts together with another 200 from the Kaipara District.
The $30,000-plus research costs will be met from a wider $170,000 Whangarei District Council (WDC) grant that has already covered the cost of the Stratcorp report.
The Steering Committee suggests that as well as a $23.6M NRC contribution, $5M could come from the ASB Trust and $2M from a “membership access rights scheme” selling rights to prime seats etc.
Ownership of the stadium would fall to a trust, which would be responsible for the day-to-day running of the stadium.
Mr McKay says initially Whangarei, Dargaville and the Mid-North were all examined as possible homes for the proposed stadium.
However, Whangarei was “clearly identified as the best geographic location because of its large catchment, ability to generate economic benefits and accessibility via road and air”. The search was then narrowed to three possible Whangarei sites; Okara, Kensington and Jubilee Parks.
Mr McKay says Okara Park emerged as best contender for a number of reasons.
“These include available space, compatibility with existing uses, an ability to integrate the proposed stadium with the adjacent cricket facility, its proximity to – and ability to generate income at - bars and restaurants and the minimal impact on residential areas.”
Meanwhile, Mr Farnsworth says while the Regional Council is currently neutral on the proposal, it also acknowledges that a regional stadium will be of value to the region and if one is not built soon, it is unlikely one will be built for many years.
“This is due to rapidly rising construction costs and the increasing dominance of other regions with existing, modern high-profile facilities.”