Taupō sports venue gets $5.3 million sports hub

The opening of a $5.3 million sports hub servicing the lower fields of Taupō's multi-purpose sports facility marks the second stage of ongoing upgrades to the facility.

The new hub at Owen Delany Park was opened with karakia and a ribbon-cutting last week.

While the facilities are open and fully functional, the carpark and landscaping are yet to be completed.

Taupō District Council said the total cost of the hub, comprising four large changing rooms, unisex toilets, and a dining room, was $5.3m.

The $5.3m came from a variety of sources, including $5m from the Government's Better Off fund and $350,000 from the NZ Lottery Grant Board and the NZ Community Gaming Trust.

Rebecca Huckle, programme manager at National Infrastructure Funding & Financing, which administers the Government's Better Off funding, said the project was selected for the $5m funding because it was seen to be of benefit to the whole community.

Remembering Owen Delany

Owen Delany Park is named after Owen Francis Delany, MBE, the man who is remembered as the father of sport in the Taupō district.

Among other organisations, Delany founded the United Wanderers Cricket Club and was instrumental in forming the Taupō Rugby Football Club.

If Mr Rugby, as he was known, wasn't playing a sport, or forming a club, he was probably coaching an outfit.

Taupō Mayor John Funnell noted the attendance of Delany's sons and daughters at the opening, and said it was particularly significant.

The park is home to 14 sports codes, and it holds many regional sports events, such as the 19s ANZMRL Mātātahi Tournament, run by Aotearoa NZ Māori Rugby League, in August.

The new hub means the lower fields, which are quite distant from the grandstand, have a wheelchair access ramp, seating, changing rooms and toilets nearby.

While the sports hub wasn't open for the 19s ANZMRL Mātātahi Tournament, it is just in time for the Global Games Junior Girls Rugby Festival, which kicks off on Friday, and the Global Games NZ Junior Rugby Sport Festival, which begins on Thursday next week.

The carpark and landscaping are due to be completed in October.

The third stage of the Owen Delany Park upgrades will be seismic strengthening of the grandstand and corporate facilities.