Tuesday, Sept 17, 2019
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‘Isolated, vilified’ P3
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SPORTS CAMPUS
A BIG WIN By Sue Newman
sue.n@theguardian.co.nz
Something D and E P15
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
The $50 million sports campus planned for Lake Hood is the ultimate acknowledgement of the lake development’s value to the district, says chairman of the Lake Hood Extension Project (LHEP), Graham Kennedy. “This is absolutely fantastic news for both Lake Hood and Ashburton. It is a huge endorsement of what has been created for the district at Lake Hood. It is interesting that we often don’t recognise what we have until someone from outside tells us,” he said. The Southern Sports Parallel team, fronted by Catherine Stuart, went public on Friday with their plans to build a sports campus and to buy, renovate and extend the Lakehouse Restaurant complex. Its objective is to provide both physical and educational training for retiring sports and military personnel to help in their transition to civilian life and work. Kennedy said the LHEP group had
been aware of the project for about three months, but had signed confidentiality agreements until it was ready to launch. A deal is already on the table for the sale of the Lakehouse and an area for the campus has been tagged on what is currently farmland beyond the stage eight residential development. It will include 20 homes as well as the sports campus. From nearby houses it will appear to be another residential development, Kennedy said. “We always dreamed that some day something like this would happen,” he said. The LHEP owns both the Lakehouse and the land that will be bought for the sports campus and 20 houses. The Lakehouse will be extended into the carparking area with an event centre and a second level to be added and this will include about 20 accommodation units. The area around the extension and Lakehouse would be extensively landscaped.
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While the two developments were being planned and funded through the Southern Parallel group, Kennedy said it was his understanding they would operate as separate entities. “I believe the developer of the lodge has about 20 lodges around the world already and this is where he wants to run his New Zealand lodge,” he said. Funding for both projects is intended to be confirmed by the end of the year and Kennedy believes there is already a funding commitment from American interests that would bridge any gaps in Kiwi fundraising. “There’s a bit of water to go under the bridge yet and if they can pull this off it will be fantastic for the lake and for the district and we wish Catherine and her team every success in finalising their project. We’ll continue to support her and her team and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure this happens,” he said. The Southern Parallel group will meet with Lake Hood residents tonight.
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