Council approves Phase 2 of Network Waitaki Events Centre
Published on 09 December 2025
Events Centre Trust and North Otago Rugby Union to build grandstand attachment.
Waitaki District Council today approved $500,000 of contingency funding from Phase 1 of the Network Waitaki Events Centre project to be put forward for Phase 2, the Centennial Park grandstand replacement project.
However it has also set out that any savings, fundraising or unspent contingency funds will be returned to reduce Council’s borrowing costs and the capital cost to the ratepayer at the conclusion of Phase 1 and 2.
The Network Waitaki Events Centre project is currently on-time and under budget, allowing for the Phase 2 work to begin as Phase 1 concludes.
Mayor Tavendale said, “The Government identified recreation facilities as one of local government’s core services they want us to focus on. With strong community support for this centre at every point we have consulted on it – we are looking forward to delivering a completed events centre and grandstand in 2026”.
Chief Executive Alex Parmley said: “This project is one of the biggest delivered in the District, and it’s on-time and under budget, and potentially set to deliver 15% more than originally anticipated. This is a huge credit to our Project Manager, his team, and the work of Apollo Projects Ltd and their subcontractors, as well as the efforts of the Events Centre Trust and North Otago Rugby Football Union”.
Phase 1 involved the construction of a six-court events centre and changing rooms with commercial and hospitality space, as well as offices.
Phase 2 of the project will build a covered grandstand, attached to the events centre building, and aligned with the Centennial Park main pitch.
Before the project began, North Otago Rugby Union requested that Council demolish the Centennial Park grandstand and add additional changing rooms to Phase 1, using depreciation funds for the old grandstand.
While Council originally agreed no funding would be provided to Phase 2, and that any savings would reduce the ratepayer's total contribution. However ensuring both parts of the project are delivered in one continuous build will reduce costs overall.
Work is still ongoing at the site and with Phase 1 construction due to finish in February 2026, work can commence on Phase 2.
Council’s total contribution towards Phase 1 and Phase 2 will remain at the $15.6 million dollars agreed in 2023. The remaining funds for Phase 2 will be raised by North Otago Rugby Football Union and the Events Centre Trust.
ENDS
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