Possible new sports centre? The former Mount Cosmopolitan Club building. Photo/file
Possible new sports centre? The former Mount Cosmopolitan Club building. Photo/file
Tauranga's $6.3 million white elephant, the former Cosmopolitan Club building next to Blake Park, could be converted into a high performance sports training centre.
The council-owned building has sat largely unused since it was purchased five years ago as part of a deal with Mount Greens Sports that saw theclub shift into a new complex.
An exciting new future for the 50-year-old building and carpark has been proposed by Bay Venues Ltd (BVL), the council's commercial arm that runs the city's stadiums and aquatic centres including Baypark.
However the cash-strapped council would first need to find nearly $1 million to upgrade the old building, including seismic strengthening, so it could be leased.
If the council agreed to fund the $1 million, BVL said it would set about securing $2 million by March 31 in order to progress their side of the deal including internal fit-outs and gym equipment.
The building would provide facilities for high performance athletes associated with sports such as NZ Sevens, Bay of Plenty Rugby, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Hockey. Bay of Plenty Rugby could set up its offices in the building, along with physiotherapy and rehabilitation therapists.
The council will be making a decision on the proposal in the next couple of days. The staff recommendation was to sell the old club building, the adjoining carpark and the rented property at 50 Miro St. They had a rateable value of nearly $6 million.
