Sunnyvale Working Party member John Moyle said contractors would begin work at the end of September, planning to complete it next March.
The former Sunnyvale Sports Centre is being transformed into the Sunnyvale Community Centre.
Upgrades include a new gymnasium floor, a viewing lounge with bar and commercial kitchen facilities, more office and storage space, additional changing rooms, and the conversion of the existing lounge into a double squash court that could also be used as a second gym. The trust had $1 million for the project but needed another $150,000 to finish it, Mr Moyle said.
Despite the shortfall, the upgrade would begin, Mr Moyle said.
To complete the project, individuals were being asked to give $100 and businesses $1000.
''People have to start putting their hand in their pocket and start giving.''
Mr Moyle believed the money would be raised because the promotion at Z Green Island revealed a community desire for the project.
Z Energy retailer Jonathan Usher said Z Green Island would give more than $2000 to the project on Monday.
During the Good in the Hood programme at Z Green Island during May, customers cast nearly 4000 votes on who should get a share of $4000.
The centre got 51% of the votes and would get $2052. The Mosgiel Taieri Community Patrol will get $590, the Malcam Charitable Trust will get $547, and Parkinson's Society Otago $811.
The support was great to see, Mr Usher said.
''It was really humbling.''
A reason the centre was popular could be because working party members were stationed on the forecourt to wash vehicle windscreens, Mr Usher said.
