Construction has started on a new cancer lodge which will accommodate 600 cancer patients from across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
The Hamilton based Lions Lodge will provide free accommodation and meals to cancer patients while they receive treatment.

An artist's impression of the new Lions Lodge.

The $14 million lodge will have 50 rooms, five family units, IT facilities, lounge and library, therapeutic massage and meeting rooms.
Waikato and Bay of Plenty Cancer Society CEO Judy Gould says the project is the biggest in the organisation's history and means more people can make use of the society's support services.
'The Lions Lodge is a wonderful place which goes a long way towards supporting those in our community affected by cancer.”
'Our new lodge will benefit and support even more people at what can be an emotional and stressful time.”
Stage one of construction, the renovation of the existing building, is expected to be complete by September 2010 and stage two, the new build, is expected to be complete by December 2010.