Traffic is taking a new route down Park Ave as local companies start a major addition to Kensington Park's multi-sports facilities.
The Northland Athletics and Gymnasium Stadium Trust (NAGST) has ticked the box for Trigg Construction to begin Stage Two of the stadium and gymnasium after the New Zealand Lotteries Board granted $280,000.
The $5.6 million facility will provide a 500 seat grandstand with views over the new all-weather athletics track, a gymnasium, administration rooms and an extra 200-plus parking spaces.
Trustee and administrator Brent Eastwood said it was exciting to be able to appoint a local firm as the principal contractor.
"Not only is the main contractor a local company but 95 per cent of the sub-contractors are also Northland firms, which is great for the local economy," he said.
The only non-local sub-contractor supplies a product not available from a Northland firm.
The stadium is due to be finished in November.
Stage One required the removal of 10 houses from Park Ave, the road realigned to dog-leg around the stadium, and access created to an enlarged carpark.
Part of Corns Park, which was adjacent to Kensington Park, has been swallowed. The new carpark will also provide much-needed extra parking during the winter sports season, Mr Eastwood said.
The road has been diverted to allow access to the construction site and will be reinstated when the stadium is finished.
Mr Eastwood said the board was delighted stage one of the project was near completion.
"The construction of this facility has been a vision of the trust for over 10 years, and to see it under-way is a fantastic feeling."
Stage Two will focus on building amenities which will include a photo-finish and announcement room, under-grandstand storage and an administration office. It will include a purpose-built 1600 square metre gymnastics stadium which will contain spectator seating , an administration office and a first aid room.
Common facilities will include changing rooms, toilets, kitchen, canteen, interior storage room, first aid room, cleaning storage room and a multi-purpose lounge.
The facility will be used by many organisations, including Marist Rugby, which is already using the inside grassed area of the athletics track as its home ground, Mr Eastwood said.
Funding grants from the Whangarei District Council, the ASB Community Trust and the Lotteries Board, as well as seed funding from Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics and the athletics community, have helped get the project to where it is now. The charitable trust, formerly the Northland All-Weather Track Trust, was formed in 2000 to develop an athletics facility; its first priority to create the all-weather track in 2010.
The trust leases the land from Whangarei District Council, owns the athletics track and will own the new facility, with Sport Northland currently contracted to provide the administrative function.