(Additional reporting Arrow Koehler)

It’s all official and the Network Waitaki Event Centre build is due to begin in September.

The Waitaki District Council yesterday signed the contract with New Zealand design and build contractor Apollo Projects, on site, for the construction of the centre at Ōamaru’s Centennial Park.

The centre is scheduled for completion by February, 2026, and before the build begins, the existing Centennial Park grandstand will be demolished.

Waitaki Event Centre Trust chairperson Kevin Malcolm said the contract signing is a “milestone in our journey towards providing a first-class facility for Waitaki”.

“We’d like to thank all the community for their support so far, and remind them that we still have a little way to go – even as the event centre itself begins to take shape at Centennial Park.”

Council chief executive Alex Parmley said there has been a “massive community effort” to make the centre a reality.

The council wants the “important facility” to “meet community aspirations”, but to be affordable, he said.

Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said reaching the stage of signing this contract has been a “team effort” with a lot of work going on behind the scenes, and he thanked all those involved.

“Their efforts, and those of council officers, the Waitaki Event Centre Trust and the wider community are all very much appreciated. 

“We look forward to seeing the Network Waitaki Event Centre rise up and provide the community with the sports and events facility they have repeatedly told us they want.”

Apollo Projects chief executive Peter Beggs said the company has been loving working with the council for the past 18 months, describing it as “a real delight, a real pleasure”.

“Apollo Projects have been impressed by council and community enthusiasm for this wonderful project, and look forward to working alongside to create a long lasting community wellbeing asset.”

Papakaio businessman Doug Hurst, who is on the fundraising committee, negotiating board and project board, contributed $5 million with his wife Donna, to ensure the centre, which they are both passionate about, goes ahead.

“North Otago has been really good to our family,” he said yesterday. 

This is a way to “give back and say thanks”.

“The signing of that contract will go down as one of the most significant things that has happened in North Otago this century.”

It is “quite unbelievable” how much money was raised by the community considering North Otago’s small population, Doug said.

The majority of the funds have come from within the district, including a $15m council contribution, however fundraising continues for the remaining $4 million dollars required to reach the target.

The Waitaki Event Centre Trust invites all those interested in helping with the fundraising efforts to contact them at [email protected].