Dreams of new gym

The prospect of a new gymnasium has Whangarei Artistic Gymnastics head coach Vicki Macdonald jumping for joy.
Macdonald, a Northland Athletics and Gymnastics Stadium trustee, is anxiously waiting to hear if the trust's $5.66 million proposal to build a new gymnasium and athletics grandstand at Kensington Park will be granted consent early next year.
To complete the project, the road needs to be realigned and 10 houses - previously bought by Whangarei District Council - need to be removed.
Despite the major disruptions to the area, Macdonald said the new facility was desperately needed and could only be positive for the community.
"It is a facility we are lacking in Northland. Everyone would have the opportunity to participate in gymnastics - a core sport which teaches skills that people can carry through to other sports," she said.
Macdonald first started coaching at WAGS in 1990, at the sport's present headquarters - a "shed" at the back of a warehouse at Kamo's Winger Crescent.
"We originally went there because we needed a big space and it was what was available at the time ... but it is in an industrial area, freezing cold in winter and stinking hot in summer. It's not visible and it is hard for kids to get to - they rely on their parents to get them there."
During the 20 years she has been coaching at WAGs, the organisation has submitted several applications to build a new headquarters in a central location, close to or at Kensington Park.
"We always wanted to be in that central location which is already youth orientated. It makes sense to have it there with all the other sports. It is within walking distance to five schools."
However, all of WAGs previous applications were rejected and Macdonald said they had never got this far into the process before.
Currently 400 people, ranging in age from 1 to 22 belong to the organisation and Macdonald agreed this number would increase dramatically with improved facilities.
Gymnastics was being taught less in schools due to limited facilities, but the new gymnasium would offer a safe and well-equipped venue for students to use, she said. President of Athletics Whangarei Ian Babe, an Northland Athletics and Gymnastics Stadium trustee, agrees the facility would benefit the entire community. He has been on various committees trying to get a new athletics track, grandstand and facilities for 40 years.
Earlier this year, the Kensington Park all weather track was completed and now Babe and the trust have their fingers crossed the grandstand - stage two of the development - will go ahead.
"It will have storage room, changing rooms and a lounge and it will essentially be the base of athletics in the north, and Athletics Whangarei's clubrooms.
"At the moment we don't have any clubrooms ... so it will be great to have those facilities," Babe said.
Working closely with gymnastics would be interesting. "Both codes are foundation sports and interested in child development. My prediction is we will get some good athletes coming through in all sports because of this development."
Kensington Park would become the "honey-pot of sport" in Whangarei with the new facility, providing overseas athletes an attractive place to come and train.
Gymnastics have two representatives on the Trust, as do athletics, but Marist Sports Club also have a trustee on board. Marist Rugby Club plan on using the grass area inside the all weather track as their home ground. There is also the possibility of appearances by the likes of the North Force football team.