The $1 million two-storey complex of offices, changing rooms, toilets, showers, function area, bar and viewing area may be built at Whitestone Contracting Centennial Park, west of the main oval, overlooking the oval and grounds 1 and 2.
But, whether it will be ready in time for a "golden oldies" rugby festival at the park as part of next year's Rugby World Cup will depend on a $667,000 grant from the Lotteries Commission's community facilities fund.
Community services manager Thunes Cloete said a funding application was lodged with the Lotteries Commission before the deadline of July 24.
He had spoken to the commission and the chance of getting the grant was "very high".
Yesterday, the council agreed to contribute $333,000 to the project, made up of an internal loan of $109,000, to be repaid by rental income from tenants, and reallocating $224,000 it had set aside in the next financial year for the Centennial Park irrigation project.
Tenants committed to the project include North Otago Rugby, North Otago Cricket and Sport Otago/Sport Waitaki.
One sporting group based at the park, hockey, made it clear it was not involved with the project, despite it being mentioned in the feasibility study.
North Otago Turf Trust chairman Ray Simpson was at the council meeting and said the sport house could not meet the needs of hockey because it was sited across the road from the hockey turf.
That posed safety issues.
Because hockey would be seeking funding for its own facility at the turf itself, he did not want the sport associated with the sport house project.
Cr Helen Stead was worried about the speed at which the project was being driven.
She felt it was being "rail-roaded" ahead of other projects.
Cr Jim Hopkins questioned the lack of some detail in the report, asking questions about costs, upgrading the main stand at the oval, funding any loss operating the centre and other issues.
Those extra costs needed to be teased out before the council decided to go forward, he said.
However, other councillors fully supported the project, some emphasising it was dependant on getting the lotteries grant.
Cr Struan Munro said it was "long overdue", Cr Alistair Mavor that the council needed to show initiative and Cr Gary Kircher that it was required at the park and would be well used.
Dr Cloete said the project has been discussed with sporting groups since 2007 and had many changes during that time, including use for the golden oldies rugby tournament and moving the planned position of the building on the park.
"Other sports groups will also benefit and have the opportunity to use the facilities," Dr Cloete said.
