Contractors have been on site since the country entered Alert Level 2 on Thursday, and have been working hard to bring down and clear away the old clubrooms on the park’s upper field on Bannister Avenue.
These buildings are to be replaced by a purpose-built Sport and Community Hub Facility that will have a shared open club social space, kitchen and bar facilities, a meeting room, storage space, changing rooms, and a cricket scorer’s room.
Wellington City Council has partnered with the Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Incorporated Society (AMPSCI), which represents six local clubs, on this exciting project that will see the establishment of a sport, community and recreational hub.
Parks, Sport and Recreation Manager Paul Andrews says the new fit-for-purpose, modern facility will bring benefits to all corners of the local community.
”This project has been a long time in the making and it’s fantastic to have construction underway. We are excited to be partnering with AMPSCI to replace the tired, dated facilities on the park and create a fit-for-purpose hub for Alex Moore Park users and the wider northern suburbs’ community.
“This is a new way of working together that will provide not only a great community space, but will also be significantly more affordable for clubs and groups than the old model of each club owning their own buildings.”
AMPSCI Chair Mike Knell agrees, saying the future for sports and other community groups in owning their own assets is changing rapidly.
“The cost of holding old buildings as assets on the balance sheet such as separate club rooms is simply too expensive, especially considering the multitude of duplicate assets around sports and community grounds nationally.
“One of the key principles of AMPSCI is to provide equal opportunity for all members to participate in their chosen sport or activity on an equal and lowest cost basis. This new development provides a strong foundation in which to achieve that objective.”
Mike says the society is an exciting and unique way for organisations to work collaboratively and affordably, while providing clubrooms and modern amenities for members. He acknowledges the collaboration and working with the Council as a key outcome of the success.
AMPSCI will also be home to the Wellington Deaf Society, and possibly other community groups both locally and regionally.
“Some of AMPSCI members have put more than a decade of tireless effort and perspiration into this project and that recognises true community volunteerism and spirit at its best,” Mike says.
The project has a price tag of $4.2M, with the incorporated society contributing $2M towards building cost. The Hub building will be owned by the Council and managed by AMPSCI, which will enter into a long-term lease of the upper facilities over the next 33 years.
The Council is project managing construction, with AMPSCI coordinating and managing the input, feedback and decision-making from member clubs, as well fundraising for AMPSCI’s share of the project.
Construction on the Hub has been awarded to Armstrong Downes. The project completion date is expected to be in February 2021.