HUB PURPOSE

To develop and operate an indoor facility for Matamata and its catchment that:
• provides for sporting, recreational and educational needs
• has significant educational, health and social benefits
• is commercially, operationally and environmentally sustainable over several generations
• develops strong community partnerships

BACKGROUND

This project has been under consideration for several years. It has been promoted primarily by the Matamata Futures Trust, along with involvement from the Matamata-Piako District Council, Sport Waikato and private individuals.

The economics of developing a sustainable, modern, fit for purpose facility that will last for future generations suits a collaborative, partnership based approach involving creative and diverse capital and operational funding.

Matamata is facing some social and economic challenges; including youth disaffection, an increasingly aged population, difficulties in attracting young residents, and indoor sport participation below national levels. A new indoor sport and recreation facility would provide a range of benefits to the wider community, which is experiencing growth, including; increased sport and recreation participation, improved community health, reduced social problems, raised community morale, economic stimulus and making the area a more attractive place to live. It would also assist the District Council to meet its commitments to community development and wellbeing.

There are no other indoor sports facilities in Matamata. Many teams travel to Te Aroha, Morrinsville, Hamilton and Tauranga to play indoor sports.

A full business case produced a business plan for a sustainable operation and refined the concept to include a double court indoor gymnasium, a multipurpose indoor space, along with administration and services space, changing rooms and storage.

A community Charitable Trust (Matamata Indoor Sports Hub) will own and govern the facility. Trustees comprise of representatives from the community, Matamata Futures Trust, Matamata College Board of Trustees, Iwi, Matamata-Piako District Council, and Sport Waikato.

A NEW VISION

Reports and feedback from all parties including MPDC, Sport Waikato and the Ministry of Education recommended that our community stadium be built on Ministry of Education land, on Matamata College grounds, with the entrance coming off Station Road.

Initial costing of the build (2 years ago) was less than $6.5 million dollars. Increased project costs of $11 million has created an almost impossible chance of our district being able to finance this project with local funding and other charities alone. Further discussions with the Ministry of Education and Sport Waikato resulted in a presentation to us requesting the stadium be sited further into the College grounds, and ultimately replacing both the existing aging gymnasiums at the school.

In taking this new direction, Sport Waikato will recommend to regional and national funders that they strongly support any grant applications.

To date we have raised $8.5 million, which includes $3 million from MPDC, $500,000 from Trust Waikato, with the balance being donated by the Ministry of Education and our generous community.