The North Otago Recreational Turf Trust has asked the Waitaki District Council to lease reserve land at the east end of the turf to build the single-storey pavilion, estimated to cost about $250,000.
Its toilets would also be available to other codes using neighbouring sports fields, such as softball, T-ball, rugby and other sports.
North Otago Hockey Association president and recreational turf trustee Shaun Cunningham said yesterday the pavilion and facilities were needed to attract national hockey events to Oamaru.
Hockey New Zealand last year notified the association the turf did not meet its minimum specifications without the facilities.
''These facilities would need to be improved to ensure [the association] can continue to host tournaments and potentially host international test matches,'' it said.
Mr Cunningham said there had been plans in place for a pavilion for the past three or four years, but fundraising could not proceed until the turf trust had approval to lease the land from the council.
The plans were for a pavilion with toilets, a viewing-meeting-tournament-control area, kitchen, changing rooms, a first aid facility and storage.
The toilets would be available on a ''key-holder'' basis to other sports codes using the southern grounds 5, 6 and 7 - at present they have to cross the road to toilets on the main grounds, which is dangerous for children.
The pavilion would also be available for hire, he said.
Today, the council's committee of the whole will consider recommending a lease be negotiated for the construction of the pavilion and, if necessary, formalise a lease for the turf with the trust.
A site plan shows the pavilion will not interfere with existing sports grounds.
Council recreation manager Erik van der Spek said the trust had asked the council for permission to extend the turf site to include the new pavilion; for an annual contribution towards maintaining the facility; to clean one set of toilets; to loan any shortfall in funds for construction; to waive or donate back-building and land-use consents; to cover the cost of connecting services to the building; and to install a driveway to it.
While extending and sharing facilities with another user at Centennial Park would be more desirable and sustainable, Mr van der Spek acknowledged a separate facility across the road would resolve safety concerns.
The committee today will consider only the lease - the other requests for funding and assistance will be made in a submission by the trust to the council's annual plan.
