| 131 Matamata Indoor Sports: Fosters COMMUNITY Community backing turns vision into reality The community trust worked alongside the Matamata‑Piako District Council, the Ministry of Education, Sport Waikato, three local iwi, and a network of funders and donors to design and deliver the facility. T T Kim Bowden “It was half the price before Covid, and when we came back from Covid and got another price, you sort of think, ‘Gosh, how are we going to do it?” A 15‑year community effort, led by a generous local plumber and a smalltown Trust, has delivered an $11.2 million multi‑use sports facility for Matamata. The new two court indoor stadium on Matamata College grounds officially opened on February 21, following an iwi-led ceremony held a couple of weeks earlier so the school could begin using the space at the start of its school year. Built on Ministry of Education land, but owned by the Matamata‑Piako District Council, the facility is a shared asset, used by both the college and community groups. “We didn’t build it for the school as such,” says Frank Healey, the chair of the Matamata Community Trust that helped drive the project. “We’re a community trust.” The idea for the project traces back to Bruce Magan, a born‑and-bred Matamata local, plumber, and Matamata College old boy. Bruce originally wanted to donate a substantial sum directly to the school for new facilities, but momentum was slow, so Bruce came to Frank and the trust for help to turn his vision into reality. “I want to emphasise the generosity of Bruce,” Frank says. “It wouldn’t have happened without him.” The trust worked alongside the Matamata‑Piako District Council, the Ministry of Education, Sport Waikato, three local iwi, and a network of funders and donors to design and deliver the facility. The final build cost came in much higher than originally estimated when the project began. “It was half the price before Covid, and when we came back from Covid and got another price, you sort of think, ‘Gosh, how are we going to do it?’,” Frank says. “But we have, and it’s through the teamwork of a good group of people and our community, who have been very generous.” The council, on behalf of ratepayers, contributed $3 million, with significant support from the Ministry of Education, Trust Waikato, other private trusts and many local donors. Obligation free quotes for all jobs, large and small Comber Street, Matamata | ph. 888 8883 | E. info@comagltd.co.nz Serving the greater waikato for over 50 years 7 DAY EMERGENCY SERVICE Proud to complete the Plumbing, Drainage & Roo ng in the new Matamata Open Country Stadium “You can’t do projects like we have just done without total community involvement,” Frank says. “It’s the only way you get stuff done. Councils certainly aren’t in the position these days to whack buildings up, or turfs, or whatever it might be.” Design work was led by a New Plymouth‑based architecture firm, Boon, experienced in community sports facilities, who consulted closely with local sports codes to lock in court layouts and functionality. The building is the size of a two court basketball stadium, with the floor marked for basketball, netball, badminton, pickleball and more. Waikato construction firm, Fosters, won the main build contract, with another Matamata College old boy running the project on the ground, and local contractor, J.Swap, handling earthworks. The result is a modern, 50‑year asset replacing two ageing school gymnasiums that had reached the end of their useful life. At the opening, the Bay of Plenty Magic women’s team took the court against the Magic men in a showcase game. Ownership has now been transferred to the council to ensure long‑term management and maintenance.
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