Wānaka’s new community space for sport and recreational facilities will officially open next weekend.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is inviting the Upper Clutha community to attend Paetara Aspiring Central’s open day from 11.30am on Sunday (October 1). 

“There’ll be basketball, netball, yoga, skateboarding and many other activities including the opportunity to meet the teams from Kahu Youth and Aspiring Gymsports as well as QLDC sport and recreation staff,” QLDC community services general manager Kenneth Bailey said.

Paetara Aspiring Central, the former Mitre 10 building, has been transformed into the new facility over the past year. 

A community-led proposal to buy or lease the building to repurpose it as a community centre was originally pitched to the previous community board in February 2021 and in April 2022 a ten-year lease for the building was approved. 

The building now features two multi-use indoor courts, a separate studio that could be used for dance, yoga and fitness classes, or as a meeting space, and dedicated areas for Kahu Youth and Aspiring Gymsports. 

“This awesome new facility will meet a range of local needs,” Kenneth said. “It’s been challenging at times to convert a ‘big box’ retail building into a community space that’s fit for purpose. 

“It’ll be great to watch it grow as an important hub in the heart of Wānaka. We expect many clubs and groups to call this centre home.”

On behalf of QLDC he extended a thank you to Martin and Alan Dippie “who have worked with us to be able to lease the former Mitre 10 building for the community”.

“A big thanks to everyone who has contributed to the project in some way and we look forward to running new sport and recreation programmes from this space.”

QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers will open the centre at a brief ribbon cutting ceremony at 11.30am (Sunday October 1) before the community is invited to explore the courts and different spaces.

From 11.30-1.30pm there will be a skating skills session in the yard with Rad Skate School and Wānaka Skateboard Club, various activities at Sport Central’s play trailer in the garden area, and colouring stations and book displays and colouring stations with the QLDC Libraries team. 

Between 12-12.30pm there will be a yoga session and from 12-1pm a basketball skills session with Aspiring Basketball Academy will take place.

Find more details here.

PHOTO: Supplied