The Y wants Metro Park ‘Superhub’

A proposal by YMCA North to build a sport and recreation community ‘superhub’ at Metro Park in Millwater is being backed by the local board.

The ambitious plan is in the early stages, but was first discussed with local board chair Gary Brown last year.

The aim is to provide a range of core sport and recreation infrastructure, indoor courts, gym and studio spaces, sports club facilities and play spaces. There is potential for rock climbing and bouldering walls. In addition, community and commercial services (for example, health, hospitality, office space) are proposed.

The funding application states that rental of office, commercial and community spaces will diversify income streams to support the operation of core sport and recreation infrastructure.

“The multi-use flexible hub is a more financially sustainable model for the provision of sport and recreation infrastructure,” the application says. “Shared facilities such as bathrooms, changing rooms and clubrooms reduce operating costs for sports codes.”

In its funding application, YMCA North points out that the need for additional sport and recreation infrastructure has been identified in the region as the population grows.

Multi-use by a wide range of sports is a big focus for the concept, such as indoor basketball courts, with line markings for other codes such as futsal, volleyball and badminton.

The proposal suggests that the facility could serve more than 180,000 users annually.

At its meeting on May 23, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board members voted to grant $7500 (conditional on the organisation receiving regional grant funding) to assist with a concept design for the project. Although this was considerably less than the $30,500 that the YMCA had requested, Brown says it showed the board’s support, which will be helpful when the association applies for other funding, including a regional grant from Auckland Council.

The application notes that the hub concept has been discussed with design and construction company Apollo Projects. Brown says a partnership and co-investment approach, which the YMCA has suggested between itself and Council, is a way for the community to get the facilities it needs.

“What they are proposing requires a multi-million dollar investment,” Brown says. “It’s early days, but potentially Council could provide a very long term lease, and the YMCA would own the facilities. It could be great for our area and adjacent areas such as Milldale. I’m very excited about it.”

YMCA North chief executive, Julian Baldey, says at this stage the organisation is not going to comment “as it is only an idea and nothing has been discussed with key stakeholders”.

Feasibility studies were carried out in 2015 and 2018 regarding the possible creation of a Council owned multisport hub for Metro Park which identified a need, but the project languished. Currently, hockey, football, cricket and athletics clubs are based at the park, with other codes, including rugby, using the fields for overflow training and games.

Sarah Bentley M: 021 285 1898 sarah.bentley@harcourts.co.nz

Karl Martinovich AREINZ

M: 021 311 889 karl.martinovich@harcourts.co.nz