David W introduced our guests tonight Frank Healy and Bruce Magan from Matamata Futures (Charitable Trust).

They have been trying for the past decade (fighting bureaucracy) to get an indoor sports and recreation hub built in Matamata, this is finally proceeding with the site confirmed at Matamata College. This purpose-built facility has two indoor courts, multi-purpose movement/meeting room, additional facilities including changing rooms, storage, office space, reception area, viewing gallery and 92 carparks. The facility is designed for flexibility to allow for changes in use and expansion in the future. Bruce believes that participation in sport and recreation activities will increase if a quality indoor facility is developed; this will also have health, social and community benefits, and help in attracting new residents and employees to Matamata. This new facility will now enable Matamata to host school and regional level sports events for a wide range of popular traditional and nontraditional sports, plus other recreational activities and other community events. Whilst no financial assistance will come from MOE, there are still guidelines to be followed, Council however are very supportive and will be contributing. The last costing was at $6.2m but with increases in building supplies this is more likely to be closer to $7.2m. They currently have half but need to raise the rest so looking for sponsors.... the naming rights are still up for grabs! Building will start in 2022 and completion by June 2023.

 

Fred B thanked our speakers and noted that he had many dealings with bureaucrats himself "a bureaucrat can be fired for doing wrong... but not for doing nothing!" 

  

 Please put November 30th in your diary for our Christmas dinner, venue to be confirmed.

 

 

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