$1.5m action centre gets green light

The $1.5 million action centre in Pongakawa has been given the green light and will open early next year.

The almost 1100sq m indoor sports facility, named TECT Pongakawa - The Action Centre, will be built in the grounds of Pongakawa School alongside the community hall and 25-metre heated swimming pool.

Pongakawa School principal Craig Haggo said it was hoped construction of the centre, which would feature a basketball court, a volleyball court, four badminton-sized volleyball courts and a glass-backed squash court, would start within 12 weeks.

The centre is expected to open by March or April 2013.

Mr Haggo said the project team had been working with the Ministry of Education and Western Bay District Council since 2011 and was delighted to get approval.

"We have had $1.5 million burning a hole in our pocket since the end of last year. To say we are excited to be given the green light would be an understatement," Mr Haggo said.

The centre would not just be used by the school community but the wider community, and already there was keen interest from regional sporting bodies who see huge benefits in making the centre an integral part of their training programme, he said.

That included players from Whakatane, Rotorua, and even as far afield as Kawerau and surrounding schools would also be invited to make use of the facility.

Late last month the school appointed Marra Construction to complete the design work and begin the consent process.

Once the final details were worked out, the next step was for the plans to be reviewed by the Education Ministry, which had provided $630,000 to ensure the building would be weather tight.

The consent process was expected to take 6-8 weeks.

But Mr Haggo said he did not envisage any problem obtaining building consent as council has been supportive of the project.

While council has no financial interest in the centre it facilitated a swap of a piece of reserve land between council and the Ministry which will see the centre built on two old community tennis courts.

Other funding sources were from charitable trusts and community donations.

This included $375,000 from Tauranga Energy Community Trust (TECT), $363,000 from the Lotteries Commission, $80,000 from the Lions Foundation and $50,000 to $60,000 raised by the local PTA.

Mr Haggo said the secured funding means the centre would be built free of debt.

But to add a mezzanine viewing area the school would soon be launching a community funding programme to raise the additional $60,000 to $100,000 needed.

Mr Haggo said the centre which was a substantial development would be about the same size as the Tauranga Intermediate School gymnasium.

"It is very exciting facility for this area and for Te Puke and TECT Pongakawa is destined to become a real focal point for sports training and sports competitions ... It's going to be like a little sister of the TECT Arena," he said.

Vicki Semple, Sports Bay of Plenty's primary school sports co-ordinator, said she applauded Pongakawa School, particularly Mr Haggo for being so proactive and passionate about making sure the action centre happened.

"It will be fantastic for local schools to have this amazing facility in their area and Sports Bay of Plenty looks forward to holding many, many events there," Ms Semple said.

Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson said TECT Pongakawa was an exciting development which would provide huge benefits to the whole district, not just to those involved in indoor sports.