Sports Park Hawke's Bay

Tender documents have been released for the construction of a $4 million, 2500 seat grandstand at the Regional Sports Park on Percival Road at the Hastings end of the Napier-Hastings expressway.

The Grandstand complements the athletics track which is one of only three class II tracks in New Zealand. The track was opened by Nick Willis in October 2008.

Tenders close on 18 February and it is expected construction will begin in March. Estimated construction time is 12 months.

Regional Sports Park Trustee and spokesperson Rex Graham said the release of the tender documents was an important milestone. "Thousands of athletes are already using the track and it's important we get construction of the grandstand underway. We had planned to have it available for the start of the 2009/10 athletics season but a handful of objectors have embarked on a legal process which has delayed things. Nevertheless we expect the grandstand to be ready early in 2010," he says.

Mr Graham said the project was significant boost for the local economy and the Trust would look favourably at tenders from Hawke's Bay based companies. "There's an advantage in being local but we also need to be mindful of getting a good deal for ratepayers," he says.

Construction of the grandstand and associated car parks will complete stage one of the Regional Sports Park. When all three stages are complete the 30ha site will have 8 football fields, 16 tennis courts, 18 netball courts, an indoor velodrome and central complex to accommodate gymsports, retail and office space.
The cost of all three stages is $56.8m. The Park will be funded through a mix of sponsorship, charitable and community organisations, the corporate sector and central and local government. As an example, the cost to an average ratepayer in the Hastings District is $26 per year or 50 cents per week.

For more information contact:

Rex Graham
021 424 972