Hawke's Bay's $8.3 million sports and events stadium is set to go ahead next year, after gaining resource consent from the Napier City Council.
The stadium project will involve the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), the council and the Hastings District Council.
EIT developed the concept and has been the catalyst for
the proposal, having already budgeted for a new sports and performing arts centre.
The Napier city council will lease reserve land on Riverside Park in Taradale, opposite the EIT campus, for the stadium and has promised $1 million. The Hastings council has undertaken to match that amount.
In his decision, the city council-appointed independent commissioner Bernard Forde said there were limited community and sporting facilities in Hawke's Bay and none of a national standard.
The stadium would still leave a significant area of the park and Tutaekuri River bank for passive recreation.
Conservation Minister Sandra Lee must approve the use of the reserve land, but this is seen as a formality.
Dr Forde said the centre would accommodate all indoor sports codes to a national standard. There would be administrative facilities for some codes, as well as meeting and lecture rooms.
The two-level stadium would seat 2400 spectators on the main floor and 280 on fixed seating. Once 2120 further seats are retracted, it will have a capacity of 3500 to 4000 spectators.
It will include a fitness centre and facilities for EIT's sports and performing arts students.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
