In 2020 Rotorua Lakes Council shared a proposal for the Westbrook Sport and Recreation Precinct (Taiwhanga Rotorua) with the community. The proposal was to create a sport and recreation precinct in Westbrook, which would incorporate Westbrook Reserve, Ray Board Park, Smallbone Park, Rotorua International Stadium, Westbrook netball courts and the Springfield Golf Course. The precinct concept would create a vibrant hub for community sport and recreation in Rotorua.

The development would create a number of other opportunities for the community, including:

• increased sport and recreation spaces
• redevelopment of the Rotorua International Stadium
• a venue for events to be held at a local, national and international level
• potential land for a residential housing development.

In 2020 Council asked the community for feedback. It was then decided that the timeline for the proposal would be extended and would be brought to the community in the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan. No final decisions have been made at this time.

Specifically, we need an additional 70 – 80 hours of playing and training time per week. This is without considering future demand associated with growth.

The proposal was to build a vibrant and modern shared sports hub, integrating sports clubs located across the city. This will provide better and more accessible facilities, help clubs share resources and costs, allow us to host bigger events or tournaments, and serve multiple community sports.

The initial draft Masterplan also set spaces for a residential development to support housing creation in Rotorua.

If this project was to progress, Council would be seeking funding from project partners, community funds and central government as well as potential funding through the Long-Term Plan. Funding could also come from the provision of the allocation of land for residential development.

Council has engaged with all of the local sports field user codes, their regional and national sporting bodies, and existing users of those facilities involved to gain initial feedback and ideas.

From this an initial draft Masterplan for the Westbrook Sport and Recreation precinct and a feasibility report has been developed. Council have worked alongside Sport NZ and Sport BOP in the development of the concept.

Council are working with New Zealand Golf and the Springfield Golf Course committee on potential options for the club and its members, including the potential of relocating them to one of the two premier 18-hole golf courses in Rotorua. Springfield Golf Course is located on Council owned land. The existing lease for this land expires in 2027. If the proposal was to proceed the golf course would be redeveloped as part of the sport and recreation precinct with an area of the golf course set aside for residential housing.