Waimate is to get a new multimillion-dollar indoor stadium, with the Waimate District Council making the final decision for the project to go ahead after a decade of uncertainty.
The Waimate District Community Complex project will transform the town's tired 40-year-old indoor stadium on the corner of Paul and Wilkin Sts, with work due to start in July-August and take between eight and 10 months.
It will cost ratepayers no more than $3.8 million, including $950,000 that has to be raised through the Waimate District Charitable Foundation, with Waimate businessman Gary Rooney and his Rooney Group picking up the rest of the cost.
The first stage of the work is the two sports courts, ablutions, function room, offices, meeting room and the main entrance area.
Stage two would be the demolition of the existing court area, construction of the fitness centre area and ablutions and improvements to the existing squash club social area.
This is to ensure any interruption to users of the facility during construction will be minor.
The council's property manager, Sue Kelly, said the total cost of the project would not be known until details had been confirmed.
But effective approval for it was given by the council on February 3 in a public-excluded meeting.
The council delegated final approval for outstanding matters to Mayor Craig Rowley and chief executive Bede Carran.
''In effect, this means the council has no further formal decisions to make on the project,'' she said.
A concept plan had been approved, with final approval of the detailed design to Mr Rowley and Mr Carran.
The project was also dependant on negotiations with Mr Rooney to reach agreement on the terms of the legal and binding agreement which would secure the necessary sponsorship.
A draft agreement had been presented and both parties were working on amendments which would resukt in this contract being finalised in the very near future. Mr Rowley and Mr Carran would be responsible for final approval.
''The council's decision allows all parties to move forward with certainty and supports the significant financial investment which the sponsor and the engineers have made up to this point.
''It also supports the significant contribution made by members of the Waimate district community throughout the past 10 years as all options have been canvassed for an improved stadium facility,'' Ms Kelly said.
External funding applications could now be filed, and the certainty provided the impetus for fundraising events throughout the community.
''This project has always been about having a suitable venue which is being utilised by the community on a daily basis ... to provide a complex which brings sport, recreation, social, fitness and community services together in one place,'' she said.
