Okara Park centre receives thumbs up

The Northland public has given their thumbs-up to a modern $30.7 million sports and events centre being built at Whangarei's Okara Park.
A telephone survey of 1000 residents spread throughout Northland showed 56 percent in favour of the stadium, 33 percent against and 11 percent undecided.
District by district, the telephone survey results show:
60 percent of Whangarei respondents were in favour, 27 percent against and 13 percent undecided.
60 percent of Kaipara respondents were in favour, 29 percent against and 11 percent undecided.
50 percent of Far North respondents were in favour, 41 percent against and nine percent undecided.
The immediate future of the project is now in the hands of Northland regional councillors who will meet on April 20 to vote on whether or not to raise a loan for $23 million towards the project.
"We will consider putting it in our budget and then the budget will go out for (public) consultation," NRC chairman Mark Farnsworth said.
He was giving little away on how councillors might sway.
"I can't read the minds of my council. We have done a survey to see what the people think and the results will be given the weight they are due," he said.
"Clearly the council will have to have a full regard for those results as we go further."
If the council decide to get the loan there would be "ample opportunity" for the public to further express their thoughts, he said.
A final decision on whether to proceed with the new stadium may be made this winter. A 150-page report by Australian company Stratcorp had recommended that the multipurpose stadium be built at Okara Park and be funded through targeted rates.
The report estimates the economic benefits to the region from high profile rugby matches alone would be $3.5 million every year.
The stadium would also host other sports.
Northland missed out on hosting the British Lions this year after rugby bosses deemed Okara Park's ITM Stadium unsatisfactory.
Northland Rugby Union chief executive Tim Hamilton said yesterday he was "pleased" with the survey results.
Whangarei mayor Pamela Peters said the survey demonstrated "the growing confidence and the positive outlook evident in Whangarei and Northland at the moment. It's good news".
Mrs Peters said the two chief reasons provided by those who supported the proposal included believing the region deserved and needed high quality facilities, and believing it was vital to be able to hold major events in the region to attract people from all over the country and the world.
Whangarei MP Phil Heatley said the result showed Northlanders recognised that improving sports and leisure infrastructure was just as important as improving other infrastructure like roading.
"We should no longer have to defer to Auckland for big events, just like we no longer defer to Auckland for shopping, industry or tourism."
Regional and district councils now had to take into account what changes the community wanted "so that we get the very best design with the best bang for the ratepayers' buck".