By PAUL YANDALL
HAMILTON - The troubled Hamilton twin-stadium project has taken another twist, with a new $35 million plan gathering support among the project's major funders.
Under the proposal, Rugby Park would be redeveloped along the lines of North Harbour Stadium - with stands on both sides and embankments at each
end.
The Hamilton City Council's stadium subcommittee, which visited the North Harbour venue last Thursday, is due to finalise costing within a fortnight and hopes to secure financial support from other potential funders.
The council has set aside $9 million and this week discussed the revamp with major funders WEL Energy Trust and Trust Waikato, which have each pledged $6 million.
An upgrade of WestpacTrust Park would see embankments extended to increase crowd capacity to 16,500 and new floodlights. But a new stand may be postponed.
The revamp comes three weeks after a citywide referendum overwhelmingly endorsed a $30.3 million Waikato Stadium Trust twin-stadium proposal.
Hamilton Mayor Russ Rimmington said that a committee of major funders would finalise design and the trust would oversee construction. No more council money would be committed but he believed there was enough funding available in the region, particularly from other local councils, to ensure the new design would proceed.
Another new stadium - a $22.5 million indoor centre - has been proposed at the council-owned Claudelands Showgrounds.
The philanthropic Scottwood Trust unveiled plans for turning the Waikato Events Centre into a 5000-seat stadium able to stage netball, basketball and volleyball events.
Trust spokesman John Davey met the council on Tuesday to seek a $3 million contribution. The trust also sought $600,000 from next year's budget towards a $2.4 million indoor tennis stadium at the Waikato Tennis centre in Dey St.
Mr Rimmington said a full council debate was needed before any commitment could be made.
