Multimillion dollar recreation centre opens today | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

THE culmination of five years hard work arrives today for Masterton Mayor, Bob Francis, with the official opening of the multimillion dollar Recreation Centre.

Despite several political battles to get the town's biggest ever entertainment project to fruition Mr Francis said he never lost faith in the project, or felt like giving up on it.

Testing the waters in the pools with his toe yesterday, Mr Francis said Masterton had got a top line facility at a bargain basement price.

In reality the $7.1 million centre is worth "$10 million to $12 million".

"That's what we would have to pay for it if work was to start now," he said.

Mr Francis said ratepayers have got great value for money, especially as half the cost has come from sponsors and trusts.

"We can easily cope with the repayments needed for the council's contribution."

The biggest headache during the entire project had not been anything to do with the construction.

"It was convincing some of the councillors to run with the project in the first place.

"There was a strong core of councillors who didn't want it but its interesting that when it came to a vote it was carried 8 to 3."

Mr Francis said a commonly heard criticism of building the recreation centre was that it should never have been done until the council had completed the planned sewerage upgrade.

"The truth is that the sewerage project was always going to take a lot of time to get it right.

"If we had held off on the rec centre we would never have got it built."

He rather liked new councillor Bruce Bishop's attitude to criticism that the sewerage plant should have come first.

Mr Bishop has been known to tell critics that "if the toilet bubbles there's no point turning off the TV".

Mr Francis said the recreation centre has been built to last.

"The design and the quality of all the plant is at the very top end of the scale."

Although there is a hydroslide and a lazy river the recreation centre is not just a young person's playground.

"I'm sure a lot of over 50s will use it especially at times when the kids are in school," Mr Francis said.

The only major facility that will not be immediately in use is the sauna, which is still about a month away from being commissioned.

At first it was intended to have Prime Minister Helen Clark at the opening but she is overseas.

Instead, Sports Minister Trevor Mallard will represent the Government.