Council looks into feasibility of a stadium for Tauranga

The feasibility of a stadium for Tauranga has been quietly investigated by officials for over a year. Photo/File.

By Samantha Motion

The feasibility of a stadium for Tauranga has been quietly investigated by officials for over a year.

Now, funding has been committed to take that investigation to the next level - but some city leaders say now is not the time.

After over a decade of stadium pitches and plans - from Paul Adams' 2015 $25 million "boutique stadium" to Hori Bop's stadium-centred mayoral campaign - a "stadium establishment group" was formed in January to gather some real evidence around the potential for a sub-regional Western Bay of Plenty stadium, according to a Tauranga City Council report.

Nigel Tutt, chief executive of Priority one, said it was about getting some facts and "taking the emotion out of it".

The group has commissioned an economic benefit study from the University of Waikato on the impact of a stadium in Tauranga, which was due in early 2019.

On Tuesday Tauranga's council committed $20,000 towards the total $85,000 cost of a needs assessment, progressing to a full feasibility study if sufficient need for the stadium is established.

Its partners - Sport New Zealand, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Priority One - were also expected to contribute funding, with $10,000 designated for "community contribution".

All elected members voted for that approach bar councillors Rick Curach and Catherine Stewart.

Curach said it was a "distraction".

"I don't think we need this discussion at the moment. We should leave it for a couple of years. We've got a stadium an hour-and-a-half away."