Progress being made on new Dannevirke sport facility

Dannewerk needs modernizing to attract families, members were told at a meeting of Dannewerk’s municipal council.

This was part of the motivation behind the project to develop a multisport complex in Dannevirke.

Dannevirke Multisport Complex Inc. spokeswoman Lina Day provided an update on the progress of the facility at the meeting held Monday.

She said the core group has been working since 2015 and there is a very motivated and dedicated committee that is keen to make the dream a reality.

The complex would stand on Dannevirke’s domain and would include both an indoor and outdoor complex, as well as a hockey turf and skate park, providing for a variety of sporting and recreational activities.

Day said the committee is making progress and making progress “of which we are very proud.”

“Dannevirke Multisport Complex Incorporated is motivated to advance the project to provide a new multisport complex to support the current and future needs of Dannevirke and its surrounding metropolitan area.”

She said two feasibility studies had been carried out and the results indicated that there was a need for an all-weather active recreation and sports space, which would address the current shortage of indoor facilities in Dannevirke.

The committee was now looking for a business case to take the project through to detailed planning and fundraising.

An activation manager has been hired to promote and integrate the ideal of the sports center.

Day said the sports center model has proven successful in places like Greytown, where attempts have been made to integrate all sports into one center and fundamentally coordinate such activities.

She said they wanted the activation manager to run some sporting events in the community.

“We want to try active recreation ideas that encourage family play.”

Councilor Sharon Wards asked how they were progressing in working with other organizations that could have an impact on the project.

Day said they met with stakeholders including athletics and cricket.

She said they were aware that there would be no one-size-fits-all solution and some organizations could either win or lose.

Part of the concept of the complex would be to share facilities and schedules so there would be no conflict.

When asked how this would affect fee payers, Erana Peeti-Webber pointed out that the Dannevirke Sports Center is currently not large enough to accommodate all sporting needs.

She said a lot of work would be required to bring it up to standard, which would include earthquake reinforcement.

“We can put money into something new that meets safety standards and is big enough.

“That will be more advantageous.”

Day said nothing stands in the way of a facility for families at the moment.

“I think as a city, as a community, we really need to modernize. We have large companies in Dannevirke… that cannot attract employees. I think it’s long overdue.”