Sporting organisations who may lose some of the use of their sports fields to the demands of the Blake Park high performance sports centre, are taking a wait and see approach.

Included in the resolution adopted by the city council this week is an acknowledgement that local sports teams' requirements for playing time may have to come second to the demands of the HPSC.

Tauranga City Council has acknowledged local sports teams' requirements for playing time may have to come second to the demands of the High Performance Sport Centre in Mount Maunganui. Photo: File

'To operate successfully and attract national and international athletes and sports teams to the HPSC, these groups will need certainty of use and a level of prioritisation,” states the staff report. 'These uses are not envisaged by Council's current Open Space Booking Policy.”

Tauranga Hockey Association general manager Mike Kerrisk says anything concerning ‘priority of usage' will have to be discussed at length with current users.

'I'm sure that it can be managed and everybody can be caters for with a good system put in place,” says Mike. 'Obviously some pretty robust discussion and agreement with all parties and potential user groups going forward.

'Our community inter-club and inter-city competitions are extremely important for our welfare going forward. There certainly would be a reluctance for historical use to take a back seat for a group of users on their say so.”

Mount Maunganui Sports Club chairman David Wellington says at this stage he's not going to get too fussed about anything.

'We've got a meeting in June and we will run through all the pros and cons of what's going on, how we are going to fit in and how we are going to make it work,” says David.

Council staff say they are working through a scheduling and booking arrangement for the 2015 and 2016 period as part of the Memorandum of understanding relating to the high performance sports centre.

The MOU will address the manner in which bookings after July 2016 will occur and any Policy implications that will need to be considered.

Organisations that have expressed interest in being involved in the centre so far include High Performance Sport New Zealand, hockey, rugby, surf life-saving, sports science and sports medicine providers, and tertiary education providers.

Council staff say they are also investigating opportunities to add additional capacity to Blake Park, and that they will work closely with the Blake Park User Forum, which will be updated on the progress of the project.

'To ensure the success of the HPSC and support the use of current users of Blake Park, Council may need to review its Open Space Booking Policy to reflect the forecasted added demand and bookings at Blake Park. This will support the ongoing effective management of Blake Park,” states the report.

Because of the expected impact of the HPSC on open space and events in the Mount north area the scope of the review of open space in the Mount north is being broadened to pick up on that. The report will be completed by May 22, 2015. Any recommendations from that report will be incorporated into the next report to the Council on the HPSC.

Construction is expected to start on July 1, and the HPSC open for business on January 1 2016.

Council commitment to the HPSC project is to make good the building – ensuring the former Cosmopolitan Club building is fit for purpose, doesn't leak and is safe and sound.

Based on technical reports at the time Council's financial contribution towards the project was estimated in late 2014 to be $977,000, which is comprised of: $89,000 for roof repairs, $450,000 for recladding, $350,000 for seismic strengthening up to a minimum of 67 per cent of new building standard set out in the Building Code.

This is a sub-total of $889,000 to which a 10 per cent contingency was added taking the total estimated sum to be contributed by Council to $977,000.

The actual cost of making good the building is currently being further refined and value engineered. Council's financial contribution, payment schedule and building specifications will be agreed in the MOU between Council and BVL.

The council contribution will be part funded by the sale of the adjoining 50 Miro St, which BVL wants to buy, says CEO Gary Dawson.

Regular project updates will be provided to elected members as the project progresses, on at least every second month, the next report will be in eariy July.

The expected HPSC benefits include attracting premier national and international athletes and sports teams to Tauranga, raising the profile of the city, building on Tauranga's external reputation and brand, and the retention of "home grown talent", says the staff report.

It will have flow on economic benefits in terms of employment opportunities and community benefits. In the four year cycle to the end of 2016 HPSNZ will spend $130 million on sporting organisations and another $72 million on athletes.

BVL is working closely with High Performance Sport New Zealand to ensure the Blake Park centre is used by and available to athletes which High Performance Sport New Zealand caters to.