Events Centre Opening Sees Dream Realised

Source: Waipa District Council

The Trust Waikato Te Awamutu Events Centre will open its doors on Friday 2nd November, realising the dream of many local residents and sports clubs to have a recreational and cultural facility of this class in their home town.

Waipa residents and visitors are welcome to attend the official opening which will begin with a welcome by local Maori at 10.00am.

It has been almost 10 years since the idea of a community facility to replace the town hall in Te Awamutu was first mooted, and with the later notion of having a covered, heated swimming pool, the complex is now ready to open for business.

Construction has been trouble free for project managers RDT Pacific and local contractors Livingstone Building, with the project staying around three weeks ahead of schedule since work began on the site in November last year.

Hillary Commission Chairman Sir Brian Lochore turned the first sod on the Selwyn Avenue site in October 2000, with some assistance from a mechanical digger, and paid tribute to Waipa District Council and local groups for getting the project off the ground.

He emphasised the tremendous contribution to the health of local people that such a facility will provide and also pointed out that the benefits to future generations of sportspeople would be many having such a valuable training facility.

Sir Brian will return to Te Awamutu for the opening of the Centre, along with Dame Sylvia Cartwright, who will perform the actual ribbon cutting.

Following the speeches, visitors to the Centre will be treated to a display of top team events by local schoolchildren.

Following the official opening, there will be an open weekend on the 3rd and 4th October. Entry will be free, with staff providing guided tours and information about activities (eg Learn to Swim, Coaching, Aquarobics, Aquajogging, Fitness Centre, hireage of indoor stadium). Bookings can be taken for all activities. There will also be loads of giveaways throughout the weekend.