Surf's up for Aucklanders, with the announcement that a new wavepark facility is coming to the city's North Shore.
The multimillion-dollar project is slated to break ground later this year, and features a world-class training facility, surf school, as well as restaurants and accommodation.
It was announced to a packed room of surfies and stakeholders today, with everyone – including the city's mayor – foaming to get out amongst it.
Located inland in Dairy Flat, the brand new wavepark from global surf park developers Aventuur will take advantage of a soon-to-be constructed Spark data centre to keep waves nice and toasty.
Aventuur spokesperson Trevor McKewen said the surf park was a world first.
"We've got a seven-hectare solar farm that will create renewable energy which the data centre will use," he said.
"The excess heat from the data centre will be then funnelled into the surf pool to heat it, which New Zealand surfers will tell you, is a godsend.
"There's no other pool in the world that has done this."
A mock-up of the planned wavepark facility, supplied to RNZ. (Source: rnz.co.nz)
McKewen said the project was a huge undertaking.
"Most things are normally quoted around this as being a $100 million-dollar project, that's what pools are about.
"That's the pool part only, it doesn't take in Spark's elements of their contribution and what they're doing with the data centre," said McKewen.
"It's a massive, massive project, not just for Auckland, but New Zealand."
The surf park received resource consent, meaning it was all takeoff for those wanting to take part.
A number of famous faces were in attendance for the reveal, including pro surfers Adrian 'Ace' Buchan and Glenn 'Micro Hall.
Paris Olympic surfing representative Billy Stairmand was also there, just weeks before he sets off to Tahiti for the games.
"It's only three weeks away – we fly over in three weeks," he said.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge, it's a big, intense, scary wave, but again I think I've got the ability to beat anyone over there and hopefully bring a medal home for New Zealand."
He said the park was an exciting opportunity for New Zealand surfers.
"I think it's a massive opportunity for, not only the development of surfing and the next generation of competitive surfers, but surfing in general."
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown – a keen surfer himself – agreed.
"It's a fantastic addition to what we've got already," he said.
"It's got a whole lot of advantages if they get the data centre up, and use the wasted water – it sends a lot of good messages. I love it, it's a great thing."
Addressing the crowd, Brown said the surf park would not put added costs on ratepayers.
"I supported this proposal because it offers local employment and business opportunities on a scale which Auckland can play a role in the recovery of the tourism industry, and best of all, it didn't cost ratepayers a cent."
Those wanting to hit the totally tubular waves would have to hang-10, however, as the park is expected to open by summer of 2026, or the year after.
By Finn Blackwell of rnz.co.nz
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