Support for sport and health centre

North Shore City Council is keen to see a centre of education and research in sport and health established, for the good of its citizens.

The proposed AUT Millennium Centre for Sport and Health would see three organisations work together.

The council's community services and parks committee chairperson, Margaret Miles, says it would provide excellent opportunities.

"It means real life issues in our communities, such as obesity and inactive lifestyles, could be tackled more positively," she says.

"A co-ordinated approach to education, research and the sports industry is a positive move. A research facility like this would be compatible with council's own research into active-friendly environments."

The committee agreed at its most recent meeting to send a letter of support for the proposal, which is a joint venture between AUT, Millennium Institute of Sport and Health and Harbour Sport.

It has applied for funding for the project from the Government's Tertiary Education Commission.

A new building near the Millennium Institute in Mairangi Bay would provide for up to 100 post graduate students and researchers as well as labs, lecture rooms and a multipurpose theatre.

"The centre would lead to better partnerships between education, elite and community sport, which would filter through to our local groups," says Councillor Miles.

"Working together and with world class facilities, there is also the potential to increase the number of our elite sportspeople."

The proposal for the AUT Millennium Centre for Sport and Health has been shortlisted for funding, and a decision is expected early next month.

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