SOCIAL and economic benefits will flow from the expanded Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium.
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The $7 million expansion includes the addition of three multi-purpose courts, new multi-purpose activity rooms, offices, amenities, a kiosk and 169 car parking spaces.
Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling and Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker officially opened the expanded sports centre on February 22.
Cr Besseling said it was a fantastic facility.
“What we have today is a magnificent community facility that will last us well into the future,” he said.
Cr Besseling said there was potential to grow local sports and bring events from sporting fixtures to expos.
“From an economic perspective, council will look at opportunities that present themselves through sporting tournaments, and from a social perspective, it will obviously cater to locals in being able to utilise it on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
The federal government provided $2.8 million to the expansion and the council funded the remainder of the $7 million project.
Mr Hartsuyker said the expanded indoor stadium had massive potential.
“It is a fantastic national standard facility that has huge potential in relation to sports tourism,” he said.
“Not only is it a great facility for locals to use and enjoy but it certainly assists Port Macquarie in bidding for major sporting events.”
Construction of the council project started in late 2015 after extensive consultation.
The stadium includes 80 tonnes of structural steel and more than 2000 square metres of new sports floor.
The energy efficient building has LED lights and louvres for natural ventilation.
Eight roof ventilators provide at least seven air changes per hour to the sports hall without drawing power from the grid.
The expanded stadium is now open to a broad range of user groups.
The council invites the community to celebrate the indoor stadium’s opening at a community fun day from 9am to midday on February 25.
"The newly expanded Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium is a wonderful community asset and this is a great opportunity to check it out, to try some different sports and to have some fun,” Cr Besseling said.