The first stage of Wanaka's $30 million investment in new recreational facilities was officially opened yesterday afternoon.
Attending her final opening ceremony as Queenstown Lakes District Mayor, Vanessa van Uden cut the ribbon on the $15.87million Wanaka Recreation Centre, in tandem with deputy mayor Lyal Cocks.
Ms van Uden said she was "absolutely delighted'' the last thing she had to open was the centre.
"I was very determined we were going to get to be part of the opening with this band of councillors.''
She paid tribute to Mr Cocks who had been "passionately committed'' to the project from the beginning and been in it for "the long game''.
About 100 guests were reminded of the long and, at times controversial, history of the building project.
Master of ceremonies Ed Taylor recalled discussions about the building as far back as 2005 with much "angsting'' and "debate'' over its location and design.
He believed it was the biggest infrastructure project in Wanaka since the construction of the Project Pure sewage treatment plant.
He acknowledged ratepayers were the centre's biggest funders but community funding organisations had also made large donations, and might be called on again if the building, containing two indoor courts, was ever extended.
Responding, Central Lakes Trust chairman Malcolm Macpherson described the centre as a "landmark project'' brought in on time and on budget, and he did not discount the possibility of additional future grants.
Wanaka Community Board chairwoman Rachel Brown pointed out Wanaka was a town fortunate enough to be a recreation centre with a wide range of facilities and with a population "encouraged to play''.
Simon Glass, business development director for the main contractor Cook Brothers Construction, said the 13-month project had been one of the company's biggest, with 200 tonnes of steel in the roof and 400cu m of concrete in the main floor.
The company had worked double shifts over the past few months to get the job finished on time.
It was now working on the adjoining $13,800,000 swimming pool, due to be completed next year.
The official opening began with a haka by members of the Mt Aspiring kapa haka group and ended with a tour of inspection.
Most of the main building was off-limits because paint on the floor was still drying.
It should be in use by July 15.
