A major east Auckland sports club has the green light to continue a multi-million-dollar plan to expand its facilities.
Pakuranga United Rugby Club (PURC) wants to provide indoor sports courts plus associated facilities including an expanded gymnasium, new change rooms, toilets, storage, and administration rooms at an expanded facility to be named The Howick Pakuranga Community Sports Centre at its premises in Lloyd Elsmore Park.
The Howick Local Board has been asked several times to vote to grant landowner approval to the club and a lease of additional premises but it’s been deferred each time.
Council staff undertook iwi engagement on the proposed development and received support from Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated.
Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki requested further project information and a site visit with staff to provide feedback.
The board voted to note the iwi engagement process has been challenging due to exceptional circumstances and illness and to support the project as a critical project for the local community and wider region.
PURC general manager Mike Bongiovanni says the board’s vote is a positive outcome.
He says the consultation process with Ngai Tai was important and it was important the iwi’s voice was heard.
“What I’m hearing from everyone is everybody wishes the communication process on this project would have started earlier.
“It was a unanimous vote so I’m glad we’re on the same page and this is a valuable project and it’s warranted and the community needs it and will benefit.”
Bongiovanni says the club plans to lodge building consent and Auckland Council will make a decision on how to fund the project.
“We applied for $5 million. We’re expecting to have a meeting with them … and then the next big thing is figuring out if council is going to back this project and to what extent.
“Then it becomes a matter of us needing to fill the revenue gap. This project is slated to cost about $9.5 million.”
Bongiovanni says the club hopes to break ground on the project in the middle of next year.
