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Construction begins on the hub
 STDC Mayor Ross Dunlop turns the first sod to begin construction of the hub
The site was blessed by Ngati Ruanui kaumatua, Sid Kershaw and South Taranaki Mayor, Ross Dunlop, turned the first sod with a specially commissioned spade donated by the Star newspaper.
“This is a momentous occasion,” says Mayor Dunlop. “All the work and planning is finally coming to fruition. the hub will be a sport, leisure and events centre that all residents in South Taranaki, young and old, can use and be proud of,” he says.
Mayor Dunlop says that if South Taranaki is to grow and meet its potential economically, it must be able to attract skilled workers and their families to the district.
“All the research tells us that attracting people is not about money but it’s about lifestyle. We must do things like the hub to make South Taranaki a vibrant district, where people choose to live, work and play, because if we don’t we will get left behind all the other districts’ who will,” he says.
Initial support for the hub came from a number of local businesses and national funding organisations.
The Lottery Grants Board made a $500,000 contribution to Stage One of the hub complex from the Lottery Community Facilities Fund.
Secretary of the Lottery Grants Board, Morag Woodley, says “The Committee made one of its larger donations to the project. It believed that the multi-purpose complex, with a wide range of sporting and recreational activities on offer, would provide a major focal point for the people of South Taranaki.”
Similar thoughts were echoed by representatives from other organisations and businesses that have made a financial commitment to the hub.
NZCT chief executive Mike Knell says NZCT is delighted to support the hub. “Funds raised from NZCT gaming machines in the area are returned to the local community in the form of grants such as this, which we can only do with the hard work and outstanding contribution of our venue operators and their staff.”
Rob Jager, General Manager of Shell Todd Oil Services Limited, one of the hub's contributing partners says that Health and Safety is STOS's number one priority. “Being a partner in South Taranaki's premier multi events centre where people can take time out for sport and other recreational pursuits, is a great way for us to give back to the community where we operate," he says.
Neil Taylor from local accounting firm Harris Taylor says that the company had been searching for a large-scale sponsorship project for some time. “the hub was the ideal opportunity,” says Mr Taylor. “We see it as a facility that will benefit the whole district. Not only will it be used by a lot of our clients and staff, and their families, but it will bring more business and visitors to the district by providing facilities for functions, conferences, expos and competitions.”
Construction of the $23 million the hub complex will take place in four stages with stage one being the entranceway and car parking on the Wahi Road side of Hicks Park; the netball/tennis courts, netball pavilion and public toilets. Stage one should be finished by the end of June.
The South Taranaki District Council is contributing $14.89 million of the total cost with the additional $8 million being sought from external fundraising and sponsorship. To date, just below one million dollars has been raised or committed in fundraising.
Mayor Dunlop says that while he is very pleased with the amount raised externally to date, that there is still a long way to go before the $8 million target is reached which is need to complete the project in its entirety.
Mayor Dunlop says the Council’s contribution is being funded from its Long Term Investment Fund. “A long term loan will be taken out which will be paid back from interest generated from the investment fund. As such construction of the complex will not ad to residents rates bill,” he says.
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